Michelle Higgs excellent work “Visitors Guide to Victorian England”, may
well touch upon the subject in her chapter on Public Baths. She has this to
say
“With very little access to clean water, the Victorian working classes faced
an uphill struggle when it came to keeping themselves clean and healthy.
They were given a helping hand when the 1846 Baths and Wash-houses Act was
passed. This legislation was a response to the successful experiments in
providing public baths in Liverpool and the Glasshouse Baths near London
Docks. The Act meant that corporations, town councils and parishes could
fund the establishment of public baths and wash-houses through the rates,
although they could not be forced to do so.
By 1865, numerous large towns had public baths and they were popular
wherever they were established. When Coventry's new baths opened in 1852,
there were "upwards of 1,000 bathers on the day of opening". At every public
baths, there were separate entrances for men and women. Inside were baths
with private facilities, as well as public and private plunging and/or
swimming baths. All had first and second class options, and in later years,
third class was also available.
The Baths and Wash-houses Act fixed the maximum fees bathers could be
charged: the lowest class warm bath was 2d, while the cold version was 1d.
Open-air baths were also 1d. For this price, they received clean water and
the use of a towel. Higher fees were charged for the more superior
facilities, which in a first-class private bath might include a carpet,
chair, mirror, brush and comb.
The private baths were enclosed in a compartment and they were usually of
the 'slipper' type. In many cases, there were no taps inside so the
attendant controlled the temperature of the water from outside. In other
baths, particularly first and second class ones, the bathers had taps inside
the rooms.”
Could the term “Bath Women”, be referring to these attendants who,
obviously, were also council employees?
best wishes
Richard Symonds
-----Original Message-----
From: Hideaki INUI
Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2016 7:48 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Bath Women
To all,
I am trying to find a meaning for the following phrase:
"August 5 cash £1. 8s. 0d. To ye Bath Women & Expences"
which I found in the document relative to the disbursement of parish poor
relief in Wiltshire village c.1730.
Bath women? Any suggestions gratefully received, please.
Hideaki Inui
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