Embedded Files
The competition was announced in 1899 and the winner was announced the following year in 1900, two months before the foundation stone laid.
Over its 126 year period the site of the Fulham Baths and Washhouses has undergone a number of periodic changes and renovations. From the 1937 reconstruction of the ladies' bath to the renovation in the 70s, demolition in the 80s and finally re-building a new dance studio from the back in the 90s. Today, the facade remains in tact and is Grade II Listed.
The Builder
Competition, Nov 18th, 1899
"...The chief excellence of the plan lies in the manner in which the approaches for the various classes of bathers is managed....
"The wash-houses are entered from Hartismere road. The design owes its position to the attaintment of the happy measium between extravagance and meannes; at the same time, it is one fo the most econonomical in first cost and in maintenance"
The Builder, 'Fulham Public Baths and Washhouses: Competition', Nov 18th 1899
"...As this bath will be used on alternative days during the winter months by the men, a pass-door has been placed, giving access from the men's first class corridor..."
The Building News, 'Selected Design with Photolithographic Illustrations', 7th Sept 1900
The Building News
Selected Design, Sept 7th, 1900
"...The entrance-block to Melmoth-place will have a rough granite base supporting a red brick elevation, with dressings and bands of Portland stone, the roof covered with green Westmoreland slates. The floors of the entrance-lobbies are to be paved with mosaic, the walls to have coloured glazed bricks dadoes 6ft. high, finished with a moulded course to take the plasters above. The first floor will be of coke-breeze concrete, paved concrete, paved in the lobbies and corridors with mosaic, and in the committee-rooms with parquetry floors. The upper floors will have wood joists and grooved and tongued boarding. The staircase to first floor will be in York stone and above in wood. The waiting-rooms to the women's private bath have concrete floors covered with linoleum, cement, dado finished with plaster above, and lighted by means of a central lantern skylight."
The Building News, 'Selected Design', 1902
THE WEEKLY DISPATCH, NOV 4TH, 1900
"The architect...has given as outward symbols of their purpose, the auquatic deities of the second storey. It is at this level that the originality and strength of the whole design is most marked"
The Builder's Journal, 'Recent Street Architecture in London' 2nd July 1902
Ladies' (Women's) Swimming Bath
Ladies' (Women's) Swimming Bath
Closest to North End Road Front Entrance
Women's Swimming Bath ( Closest to Front Entrance )
Old Ladies Pool was 60ft x 20ft
1937 - Reconstruction of the ladies swimming baths
New Ladies was 75ft x 25ft ( complete with Filtration Plant ) in the 1937 reconstruction
During the winter it was to be used by the Men on alternate days ( according to the 'Selected Design' )
Men's First Class Swimming Bath
Men's First Class Swimming Bath
( MIDDLE POOL ) Covered over for Boxing, Bowling
Men's Second Class Swimming Bath
Men's Second Class Swimming Bath
( Furthest from Front Entrance )
Also known as 'Main Bath'
Men's Second Class Swimming Pool, 1940s
Men's Second Class Swimming Pool, 1950s
'SLIPPER' BATHS / WARM BATHS
At the time of construction, there were 84 Bathtubs in use, 59 Mens and 25 Womens which provided private washing and warm water.
First Class Baths: 28 (18 Men's // 10 Women's)
Second Class Baths: 56 (41 Men's // 15 Women's)
Public Wash House for 66 Washers ( Entrance on Hartismere Road )
At the time of construction, there were three baths, laid out end-on-end:
Women's Swimming Bath
Men's First Class Swimming Bath ( Middle Pool )
Men's Second Class Swimming Bath
The Main Bath, it was the largest of the three (100x30 feet) and had a spectator gallery.
Men's First Class Pool - 1900s - Capacity 350, 100ft x 30ft
1937 Reconstruction
1937 Reconstruction
Progress was reported and monitored by the local press, including the delay and increase in cost materials and labour when refurbishing the building.
The redevelopment took time to get underway becuase of delays in getting approval from the Ministry for a loan, and the uncertainty of impending war.
Total cost of work was £66,201
It was undertaken by K.W.M.B Cross, F.R.IB.A, an architect who speciliased and had keen interest in public baths and washhouses.
The reconstruction of the ladies' bath was " so arranged that the Bath can be used for mixed bathing if desired"
Existing Men's first class bath was to be redecorated.
By 1936 the application for a loan for the renovation was questioned in a letter to the Ministry of Health. Slipper Baths less demand becuase social housing included baths and a lot of retro fitting of baths in older houses was taking place already. Fulham was getting bigger so there was a suggestion to create satellite/branch baths without pools. There was also concern that washer-women would make a profit using the council /rate funded facility for their own gain.
Increase no. Slipper Baths, enlargement of the three pools, modernisation of dressing accommodation and provision of foot baths and showers.
Improvement of Laundry facilities including power driven machines, improvement of Establishment laundry and provision of Cafe
Corridors demolished
Introduction of First Floor for 82 Slipper Baths
Ladies Swimming Bath - erection of the new first-class swimming bath for ladies. Increased in size from 60ft x 20ft to 75ft x 25ft. Maximum depth of 7ft 6 in
Introduction of the hanger system
Foot baths are introduced
Introduction of a cafe
Filtration system introduced, water is constantly sterilised and aerated
Washing troughs scrapped, mechanical washers fitted
Electricity more widely used including electric irons.
1936, 14th Feb,
West London Observer
1937 RENOVATION
Westminster & Pimlico News, Sept 3rd, 1937
Old Ladies Pool was 60ft x 20ft
New Ladies was 75ft x 25ft ( complete with Filtration Plant )
Slipper Baths removed from ground floor
82 Slipper baths installed on First Floor Extension
Original dressing boxes were demolished
Dressing rooms with coat-check style hanger rooms introduced.
Foot baths introduced for all the pools.
Hygienic improvements made - cleansing provisions before entering the pool
Modern fixtures and fittings
New Radiator system installed ( as per 1947 article opening of Ballroom )
Renewed all the hot water and steam pipes
Electrical mechanical washers introduced
Washing Troughs scrapped, new ones erected
Electric Ironing introduced
Fulham Baths Reopened - 1937, 1st Oct
Ceremony performed by Mayor
Fulham School Pupils Take First Plunge
Mixed bathing, swimming lessons, slipper baths, foam baths, public washhouses - these are only a few of the facilities at Fulham Baths and Washhouses which have recently been decorated.
Swimming, he said, was of immense service to the public, being the healthiest form of physical exercise, while its value from a life-saving point of view required no emphasis.
Since 1918 the public demand for swimming baths and better swimming facilities had increased to a tremendous extent, and the Fulham Borough Council, whose desire was for the improvement of the health of the citizen, was prepared to stimulate and encourage this progress because the members believed that, as a health measure, the provision of bathing facilities was the truest form of economy.
They trusted that, now the renovations had been made, full advantage would be taken of the improved conditions in the swimming baths, the slipper baths and the laundry. The Council would then feel fully repaid for all its efforts.
The baths and washhouses were constructed in 1902 and, at that time, the building was considered one of the finest of its kind in the country; but, with the passing of time, the premises became seriously out of date - both in planning and equipment.
The arrangement of the dressing boxes on both sides of the swimming baths was unsatisfactory, and not in accordance with modern practice, nor with the requirements of the Ministry of Health. There was, for example, no cleansing accommodation for the use of bathers prior to entering the baths.
Retained in its former position, the public wash-house had had the plant and machinery modernised. The mixed swimming bath had been painted and reconditioned, the old slate slab dressing boxes removed, and the bath “surrounded” correspondingly widened and repaved with special non-slip mosaic.
In the new dressing room for men, which adjoined the bath, 42 dressing boxes had been provided, together with counters for the storage of clothes. The women’s dressing room contained 21 boxes with similar provisions.
An interesting innovation was the provision of a cafe where bathers could obtain refreshments. The cafe was situate in a central position near the mixed swimming bath.
A new self-contained establishment laundry had been installed which consisted of two rotary washing machines, two self-contained hydro-extractors, a steam boiling copper, soap boiler, rinsing or steeping tank, two hand washing troughs, two vertical mangles, and 19 drying horses with cased fan, steam heated battery, etc. The machinery was electrically driven and capable of washing all towels at the most busy times.
The Mayor said one was rather proud to find that they had such an energetic committee as the Establishment Committee under Councillor Coleman. He paid a tribute to the architects, Messrs, Cross, and said the Council could give them only a “short head” with regard to spending money on the improvements. The architects would have liked to have spent something like £150,000 and made “a real job of it.”
“Tonight we are opening only two-thirds of the baths,” he said. “The other part has not been completed.”
1969 Refurbishment of Ladies Pool
1969 Refurbishment of Ladies Pool
Cost = £4,000
Closed for 2 months
Increase in cost and entry charges to go up in line with the 1971 move to decimal currency.
New Roof, new cubicles, anti graffitti measures
"Here the designers have attempted to reduce the temptation to grafitti artists by introducing a material that it is hoped will reduce the stoutest pencil to a splintered stub!..." Fulham Chronicle, Oct 31st, 1969
1981 Demolition
1981 Demolition
1990 Construction of Dance Attic Studios
1990 Construction of Dance Attic Studios
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