PUBLIC BATHS The first public baths in this country were erected by the Corporation of Liverpool, and were opened in 1828. They are situated at the St. George's Pier Head, and are still much used by swimmers, as they are supplied with salt water.
In September 1844, the Lord Mayor of London, Sir W. Magnay, convened a meeting at the Mansion House, with the idea of forming a committee for Promoting the Establishment of Baths and Wash-houses for the Labouring Classes.' The Rev. Sir Henry Dukenfield, Bart., was appointed chairman of the committee, and through his instrumentality a Bill was brought into the House of Commons by Sir George Grey, and received the Royal assent on August 26, 1846.
The first of the London parishes to adopt the Act of 1846 was that of St. Martin's in the Fields, and baths were opened in Green Street, Leicester Square, in January 1849. This was followed by the opening of baths in Lisson Grove during the same year, and at Great Smith Street, Westminster, and Greenwich, in 1851.
In 1852 there were seven establishments, which were estimated to have been used by 800,000 bathers. The Act was largely taken advantage of, and public baths were in augurated in Marylebone, Westminster, Poplar, Bloomsbury, Hanover Square, Bermondsey, and other parishes. A joint stock company took over the old National Baths in West minster Bridge Road in the following year, and converted them into Baths and Wash-houses. These baths are stated to have been the largest and finest in existence at that period.
The success attending upon the erection of public baths in London and Liverpool led to the adoption of the system throughout the country. Among the first erected were those at Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Maidstone, Bilston, Norwich, Hull, Oxford, Wolverhampton, Macclesfield, Notting ham, Balton, Worcester, York, Hereford, Chester, Plymouth, Sunderland, Newcastle, Carlisle, Coventry, Belfast, and Water ford. In the majority of instances they were found to be self supporting, and in most cases to yield a profit. The advantages of the Act are now fully recognised, and public baths are springing up in almost every town and parish. The Act pro vides for swimming baths (covered and open air), warm or cold slipper baths, vapour and shower baths, and wash-houses.
Hot air or Turkish baths are not mentioned, but the Local Government Board raises no objection to them. There may be three classes of swimming baths, but two classes are generally found sufficient. The inclusion, however, of a third class bath in a large establishment, for the use of boys and schools, would be a great advantage, especially as it is not un likely that the Education Department may be induced to grant further facilities for the teaching of swimming, so that every school can regularly make use of baths during the summer months. In addition a swimming bath for women is most essential.
Bath commissioners are nearly always attracted by cheap sites, and build the establishments they are called upon to control in some out-of-the-way quarter of the town, down some by-street, where a site, generally a large one, can be purchased at no very great outlay. This is undoubtedly a mistake, as all public buildings of this character should at least have their principal entrance, not necessarily an extensive frontage, abutting on a main thoroughfare ; for it has been found that the public do not make so much use of establishments in an out-of-the-way position as of those placed prominently before them. In the end the extra cost of the site is more than repaid.
In dealing with the swimming baths and their relative sizes there are many points to be considered. In a locality with a mixed population, where a large establishment can be main tained, the following dimensions for the water surface will be found to be the best : If there is a third-class bath for boys, it should be about the size of the women's bath.
The popularity of swimming, mainly owing to the energy of swimming clubs, has made the baths a remunerative feature of the public bath-houses. The first-class bath should not be less than ioo feet long, and should have a width of at least 4o feet. If a greater length is required it should be remembered that the bath will be most probably used for racing, and a length that will give a certain number of laps to a recognised distance is essential.