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BATHS AND WASHHOUSES FOR THE INDUSTRIOUS CLASSES.

THESE institutions, which are now rapidly increasing in London as well as in the country, originated in a public meeting, held at the Mansion House in 1844, when a large subscription was raised to build an establishment to serve as a model for others, which it was anticipated would be erected, when it had been proved that the receipts, at the very low rate of charge contemplated, would be sufficient to cover the expenses, and gradually to repay the capital invested. The Committee then appointed partially completed the Model Establishment in Goulston Square, in 1847, and opened 40 baths to the public, the demand for which by the working-classes has established beyond doubt the soundness of the principles which actuated the Committee; and such was the attention attracted to the subject by its proceedings, that the government, at the suggestion and instigation of Sir H. Dukinfield, Bart., induced Parliament to pass an Act to enable boroughs and parishes to raise money on the security of their rates, for the purpose of building baths and washhouses in all parts of the country.
    The provisions of this act have already been adopted by seven parishes in London. St. Martin-in-the-Fields (constructed by Mr. Baly), of which Sir H. Dukinfield was then the rector; St. Mary-le-bone (constructed by Mr. Eales); St. John and St. Margaret's, Westminster (constructed also by Mr. Baly); St. James's, Westminster; Poplar; Greenwich; St. George's and St. Giles's, Bloomsbury, as well as in several boroughs in the country. The general arrangements of these establishments are based upon those of the model.

    The success of the bathing department, as well as the necessity which existed for such means of cleanliness among the industrious classes, is to be found in the numbers who have used them since their first opening. At the Model, the St. Martin, and the George- Street establishments, 1,300,000 baths have been given in little more than 3 years, of which above 550,000 have been given in the year 1850.
    The laundry at the Model Establishment, the completion of which has been delayed from the want of funds, was not even in partial operation till after the erection of the parochial establishment in St. Martin-in-the-Field5, and that erected by private subscription in George Street, St. Pancras.
    The anxiety of poor women to use the laundry has proved to be fully equal to that of the men to use the baths; for in the short period which has elapsed since the opening of the three laundries referred to the clothes of nearly 1,500,000 persons have been washed, dried, and ironed.
    The progress of the washing department, however, has been slowest in the dirtiest and poorest district, showing how difficult it is to induce those who have never known the luxury of cleanliness to adopt a new system, even when it is provided exclusively for their benefit, and the charge for its use is so low as to place it within the reach of all but paupers.
    Thus, in 1849, no charge was made at Whitechapel. The tubs, well supplied with hot and cold water, were opened gratuitously to the poor during the whole period that the cholera was raging, and yet but few availed themselves of the advantages so offered; the numbers attending in the six months, from July 1 to December 30, 1849, being only 5695.
    In 1850, the tariff of charges was agreed to, viz. 1d. per hour for the two first hours, and 1d. per half-hour afterwards, for an unlimited supply of hot and cold water, well-arranged drying closets, and irons and ironing boards. In the first six months but 4350 women attended, while in the second six months the number increased to 10,352; and this increase has been, and continues to be, progressive week by week; a progress so steady, and accompanied by such thankfulness on the part of the washers, that the committee feel satisfied they will soon be called upon to complete the remaining half of the wash-house, which is still unfinished for want of the necessary funds-about 1500l.
    The floors of the bath rooms and washing rooms, the divisions between the baths and wash-tubs, are all slate. The baths are of zinc, and each bath room contains 36 superficial feet of surface, and is provided with a looking- glass, seat, pegs to hang up the clothes, and other little conveniences. The quantity of clean and fresh water for each bath is between 50 and 60 gallons. The price for a first-class warm bath is 6d., providing 2 towels; and for a second-class warm bath, 2d., providing 1 towel.
    We cannot afford more space than is required for this hasty description of these useful institutions. In the largest sense they are charitable institutions, for they provide, by means of the superabundant capital of the richer class, for the comfort and health of the poorer class; but whilst thus benefited, the poor have the satisfaction of feeling that they pay a price for this luxury and means of health fully adequate to reward the capitalist, and to encourage the philanthropist to pursue his search for opportunities to benefit the poor without sacrificing their independence, or lessening their inducements to continue with cheerfulness their daily toil. 
    We have now only to add, that foreign countries are following with alacrity and zeal the example we have set them. France, through the recommendations of a commission appointed by her President, has already voted 24,000l. to aid in the erection of Public Baths and Laundries in Paris.
    Belgium and the United States are also alive to the importance of the subject, and, as well as France, are in correspondence with the Committee and Mr. Baly for plans which thus far have been stamped with the approbation of England, France, and America.
    The Model Establishment is open at all times to visitors; and by application at the committee room the assistant secretary will make arrangements to attend, and to afford every information in his power to foreigners who may wish to examine the apparatus in detail.

    We will now proceed to explain the drawings with which we have been favoured by Mr. Baly.

    No 1. is the elevation of the Westminster Parochial Establishment, the most recently erected. Its style is plain and bold; simple, but conveying the idea of a public building erected with a view to durability and utility. It contains 64 Baths and 60 Wash-tubs, and 2 Plunge Baths; and, including the purchase of the site, will cost 13,000l.

    No. 2 is a view of a woman at a wash-tub; and of a woman, having washed bet clothes, hanging them up to dry.

    No. 3 and No. 3 *, showing the linen in the drying chamber, heated by hot-water pipes, immediately above the wash-tub, as well as a woman hanging up for drying previous to sending them to the drying chamber, as at St. Martin's

    No. 4. Section through the ironing chambers.

    No. 5 is the general ground plan of the Westminster establishment:-
    A. The boiler room, where the water is heated for the baths and wash-tubs.
    M. The chimney and the ventilating flues, which carry off the vapour and foul air from the bath rooms.
    B and C. The second-class men and women's waiting rooms and baths.
    D. The first-class men's baths and waiting room. The first-class women's baths are in an adjoining house, and not shown on this plan.
    F. The first-class plunge bath and dressing rooms.
    G. The second-class plunge bath and dressing rooms. The baths will contain respectively 20,000 and 40,000 gals. of water, will be 3½ ft. deep at one end, gradually increasing to the depth of 5 ft. at the other.
    H and I are the washing tub and boiling tub, for the women washing, and are supplied with cold and hot water, and steam.
    K. The ironing boards.
    L. The drying chamber, heated by flues; the temperature of which, when in full work, will be maintained at above 200º.
    N. The situation of the wringing machines, by the use of which the wet linen is deprived, by a small expenditure of time and labour, of above half its water before being put into the drying chamber.

    No. 6 and No. 6*. The section of the building through the washing department, the letters on which correspond with those on the ground plan, and therefore require no further notice; but we may call attention to the very ingenious construction of the wrought-iron roof, covered with glass and slate. Its lightness and simplicity, the elements of cheapness, fit it especially for a building of this kind.

    No. 7 and No. 7 *· Section through the bath room.

    No. 8 and No. 8* . The details of the roof over the bath department, showing how these chambers are connected with the ventilating shaft; a large flue A being formed in the apex of the roof into which the foul air and vapour are drawn, through the interstices of the ceiling boards B.

    The number of bathers and washers at three of the principal establishments now open in the metropolis are steadily progressing. The receipts of this year have been as follows:-

Committee Room, 5, Exeter Hall; and Model Establishment, Goulston Square, Whitechapel.

Chairman of the Committee-The Rev. Sir H. R. Dukinfield, Bart.
Deputy Chairman-William Hawes, Esq.
Honorary Secretaries-James Farish, Esq., and John Bullar, Esq.
Engineer.-P. P. Baly, Esq., C.E. Assistant Secretary-George Woolcott, Esq.

    To those born in a sphere of life far removed from want, and living in ignorance of the miseries of the masses of human life located ill many districts of this vast metropolis, more especially in the most eastern parts of it, where Jew and Christian, infidel and sceptic, live, or rather exist, in houses badly constructed, ill ventilated and drained, and huddled together in filth-men, women, and children in the one room, and in many cases sleeping in one bed ;-it will scarcely be credited by those living in comfortable and cleanly houses that such vice, misery, and discontent daily and nightly occur at so short a distance from the palaces and houses of the rich. Can it be wondered that the epidemic of the year 1848 should have prevailed so fatally, and that its anticipated return is so alarming to us all? Yet these direful calamities still remain among our poorer countrymen, and the moral degradation of this numerous class furnishes inmates for the prison and union workhouse. The value of labour in the production of several articles of daily use is reduced by the monopoly of the more wealthy trader, and the tendency of the improvement of street architecture operates most injuriously to those artizans living in lodgings,-the house occupier, either as freeholder or leaseholder, is compensated, whilst the poor must turn out and seek shelter in a more expensive lodging, and in a more densly-thronged neighbourhood, with no provision for him whose voice is too feeble to be heard. The benevolent establishments of baths and washhouses and model lodgings are, however, a great step in advance towards amelioration. It is Christian, and it is politic in a worldly sense; it is a beginning towards the salvation of soul and body, by cleansing the body and Purifying the mind; it is an earnest in part payment of a debt due to those who labour for us. There is another and a most essential help yet required-the visitation by district committees of all houses wherein the casual nightly lodger is sheltered, the separation of the sexes, and the separation of children from the contamination of the thoughtless and the depraved. These good things are yet to be done, and it is the duty of the government, as well as of individuals, to aid in forming and carrying out measures to assuage these crying evils.

The Pictorial Handbook of London, 1854

BATHS AND WASH-HOUSES, for the working-classes, originated in 1844, with an "Association for Promoting Cleanliness among the Poor," who fitted up a Bath-house and a Laundry in Glass-house Yard, East Smithfield; where, in the year ending June 1847, the bathers, washers, and ironers amounted to 85,584; the bathers and washers also gave whitewash, and lent pails and brushes, to those willing to cleanse their own wretched dwellings. . . . This successful experiment led to the passing of an Act of Parliament (9 and 10 Vict. c.74), "To Encourage the Establishment of Baths and Wash-houses." A Committee sat at Exeter Hall for the same object; a Model Establishment was built in Goulston-square, Whitechapel; and Baths and Wash-houses were established in St. Pancras, Marylebone, St. Martin-in-the-Fields, and other large metropolitan parishes.

John Timbs, Curiosities of London, 1867