The swimming baths of LondonDudgeon, R. E. (Robert Ellis)
History
The swimming baths of London
Dudgeon, R. E. (Robert Ellis)
Swimming; Swimming pools -- England -- London
_Kensington Swimming Bath_, High Street, Kensington.—This little
bath is about 10 yards long by 7 wide. It is lined, sides and
bottom, with cement painted white. Depth from 3 to 5 feet. The
walls, which rise straight up from the bath on three sides, are
painted in imitation of stone, and are festooned all round with
chains for the bathers to lay hold of. The ceiling, not very
lofty, is of wood, whitewashed, pierced by six windows, which
admit a good quantity of light. Four chains hang from the ceiling
to near the surface of the water. The water is very clear and
fresh. There are 8 boxes for bathers, entered at the back by
doors, and with half doors facing the water. Stone steps lead
down to the bottom of the water from these boxes, which occupy
the whole of the shallow end of the bath, are rather narrow, but
clean and neat, with mirrors. At one side of the bath is a short
footway projecting about 10 feet over the water. A spring-board
in the middle of the deep end, and at the corners ladders for
diving from. This bath, though small, is clean, well ventilated,
and select.
_Lambeth Swimming Baths_, Westminster Bridge Road.—The first
class bath is 41 yards by 15. Depth from 3 to 5 feet. The sides
of the bath have a row of white porcelain tiles above, the rest
of the sides and the bottom are lined with dusky tiles. The water
tolerably clear. An elegant fountain in the centre admits the
warm water. An aquarium at the shallow end. A lofty spring-board
at the deep end, a lower one at one side. Eighty roomy boxes for
bathers with half doors, running along each side of the bath.
Above these, on each side, is a gallery supported on light iron
pillars, with 16 superior rooms for bathers. Ceiling lofty,
double slope, pierced with numerous windows, which light the bath
well. A broad paved space between the boxes and the water. This
is the largest first class bath in London, and is much used for
swimming matches. It is well lighted and ventilated. There is a
second class bath nearly as large, 38 yards by 17.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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