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
The gentlemen’s bath is of an irregular shape, about 22 yards
long by 7 wide. Depth from 3 to 5 feet. A spring-board at each
end. The bath is floored with tiles of a dusky reddish-brown
colour, the sides of white bricks. The bathing boxes, 20 in
number, very narrow, with half doors, run along the top and down
a part of one side. The walls, whitewashed, support a low ridge
and furrow ceiling, with dimmed panes of glass let into it. A
narrow ledge runs along one side of the bath. Small jets of water
run in at one end. At my visit the plaster was peeling off the
walls in patches, and green mould was creeping up the walls.
This, with the low ceiling, the dim illumination, and the dismal
colour of the material of which the bath is constructed, gave a
gloomy and uninviting aspect to the place. Still, I am bound to
say, the water was clear and pleasant.
The ladies’ bath is smaller, 10 yards by 7. Depth 4 ft. 6 in.
Lined with white porcelain tiles. Platform and 6 boxes with
curtains at one end. The walls, whitewashed, rise up from the
bath at the other three sides, and support a not very lofty
ridge and furrow ceiling pierced with a few windows. This bath,
which is the only one I know of in London exclusively devoted to
ladies, deserves attention on that account. It is far from being
everything that is desirable, but the water is clear, and there
is just room enough to learn swimming.
_St. George’s Swimming Bath_, Davies Street, Berkeley
Square.—This bath is 14 yards by 8. Depth 3 ft. 6 in. to 5 ft.
6 in. Sides paved with white porcelain tiles with black spots at
angles; a top row with Greek pattern in blue, bottom of white
glazed bricks. Open boxes with mirrors and half curtains, 42 in
number, all round the bath. A sloppy, slippery wooden footway in
front of boxes. Spring-board at deep end. Wooden steps down to
the bath at the middle of one side and at one corner. Ceiling,
supported on iron pillars, of painted iron work. The light comes
from a large skylight at the top of a high narrow funnel with
painted iron sides, and from 7 small windows over the top of
the boxes on one side. The water is clear, but the lighting is
very indifferent, and the ventilation decidedly defective. The
wringing machine belonging to the laundry keeps up an almost
incessant and very lugubrious noise. This bath is first class on
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and second class on the other
days of the week. It is under the same management as the
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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