Observations of Indecent Bathing

At the turn of the 19th century, "sea-bathing" was becoming a popular activity on most United Kingdom and European coasts. At this time, women were all wearing canvas bathing dresses when at the seaside; however, virtually all men and boys on all coasts still sea-bathed completely nude. This presented challenges for the conservatives as it was customary on many coastlines that not only were men and boys completely naked, but were usually in such a state while sharing the same beach and water with the women and girls, who of course were clothed. It is for this reason that "mixed-bathing" became known by the puritans as "promiscuous bathing", and it launched a conservative crusade to keep the sexes separated that lasted over a hundred years. As described by knowledgeable historians in the journals and treatises found elsewhere on this site, the puritans never claimed full victory as even as late as the early 20th century, there remained vestiges on many British and European coastlines where men and boys typically remained completely naked while in the presence of women and girls.

The following article printed in 1805 marks the beginning of the controversial "mixed-bathing" practices. It indicates that such mixed-bathing was "very prevalent", but what is interesting is how when the sexes were eventually separated at Exmouth by the magistrate, they quickly reverted back to mixed-bathing specifically because it was the women, not the men, that wanted an environment where naked men and clothed women enjoyed the beach together.

Observations on Indecent Sea-bathing, as practised at different Watering-places on the Coasts of of this Kingdom. 12mo. PP. 12, £d. Hatchard, 1805THESE observations first appeared in the form of a Letter to the Editor of "the Sun", who inserted them in his paper and subjoined some very pertinent and judicious remarks of his own. The practice of which the author complains has certainly become very prevalent of late, and calls loudly for exposure and suppression. It consists in the want of a due separation of the bathing machines, used by women, from those used by men; or of those convenient canvass screens which are affixed to the machines at Margate and some few other places, and which ought to be generally adopted. From this neglect, women have the appearance, as this writer observes, of bathing promiscuity with men. "At Teignmouth, at Dawllish, and at Exmouth, the bathing-machines, used by the ladies and the gentlemen, though destitute of awning, are not separated, and the sexes may be said to bathe promiscuously. A t Sidmouth, indeed, the sets of machines are separated; but the distance between them is so small that it seems rather an apology than a homage to decency. Weymouth I have not yet visited; but there I understand the laws of decency are respected." At Exmouth, we are to!d, a magistrate interfered to prevent this violation of decency, and the machines were for.a time separated, but; as the bathing women asserted to the said magistrate, they were restored to their former proximity at the express desire of the ladies themselves!!! The author, however, considers, and we hope, for the credit of the sex, justly, that this is a base libel of these mercenary.