'Turkish' delights
The Field|September 2023
Famous for their health benefits, so-called Turkish baths soared in popularity during the Victorian era. Today, the heat is on to protect the few that remain
ETTIE NEIL-GALLACHER
'Turkish' delights

FIRST things first: Victorian Turkish baths aren’t really Turkish. But they are really Victorian. In keeping with the entrepreneurial spirit of that period, they owe their development to certain key figures as well as to the spirit of an age that saw radical development in terms of engineering, architecture and medical care. But while once there were more than 700 Turkish baths in the UK, we’re now down to single figures.

Those 700 covered the whole country: there were public ones and private ones; they were built in hospitals for pain relief and asylums for treating depression and countering mania; railway companies constructed them for their employees, and ocean liners, such as the RMS Adriatic, had them fitted. The majority were constructed during the reign of Queen Victoria, though their development continued well into the 20th century.

The few that remain show no sign of declining in popularity. The most exclusive of these is, of course, the Turkish baths at the Royal Automobile Club in London. A survey published last year found that 193 members use the baths several times a week, and a further 338 weekly. One of the most intact examples, the Turkish baths in Harrogate with their Moorish design, glazed brickwork, arabesque ceilings and terrazzo floors, once welcomed Queen Victoria’s granddaughters, and still receives around 180 visitors a day, with more coming in for treatments. The glamorous appeal of the Harrogate baths has attracted the attention of film directors, while the Porchester Spa in Queensway is reported to be popular among celebrities, with fans said to include Damon Albarn, Edward Fox and Lovejoy himself, Ian McShane.

この記事は The Field の September 2023 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

この記事は The Field の September 2023 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

THE FIELDのその他の記事すべて表示
Rory Stewart - The former Cabinet minister and hit podcast host talks to Alec Marsh about the parlous state of British politics, land management and his deep love of the countryside
The Field

Rory Stewart - The former Cabinet minister and hit podcast host talks to Alec Marsh about the parlous state of British politics, land management and his deep love of the countryside

The gently spoken 51-year-old former Conservative Cabinet minister is a countryman at heart. That's clear: he even changes into a tweed waistcoat for the interview, which takes place at his London home and begins with a question about his precise career status. Having resigned from the Commons and the Conservative Party in 2019, the former diplomat and soldier has reinvented himself, first with an unconventional but promising run as an independent for the London mayoralty (abandoned because of COVID19 in 2020) and then as a media figure, co-hosting one of the country's most popular podcasts, The Rest Is Politics, alongside Alastair Campbell, the former Labour spin doctor.

time-read
4 分  |
November 2024
Fodder
The Field

Fodder

Local fare with the feel-good factor.

time-read
2 分  |
November 2024
Celebrating the game changers
The Field

Celebrating the game changers

Once served only in the traditional manner, the fruits of our forays now find their way into all manner of diverse and delicious dishes, say Neil and Serena Cross

time-read
3 分  |
November 2024
The first civil engineer
The Field

The first civil engineer

John Smeaton left an indelible mark on the field of engineering and, three centuries after his birth, his legacy remains as strong as ever

time-read
6 分  |
November 2024
School spirits
The Field

School spirits

From grey ladies and ghostly gardeners to more malign entities, public schools are a rich repository of unnatural phenomena

time-read
8 分  |
November 2024
'A long way from Piccadilly or Pall Mall'
The Field

'A long way from Piccadilly or Pall Mall'

Marking 150 years since the birth of Sir Winston Churchill, Dr Conor Farrington explores this eminent statesman’s often-overlooked 1907 tour of British East Africa: a journey rich with enchanting natural beauty and sporting adventure

time-read
7 分  |
November 2024
Top of the pups
The Field

Top of the pups

Canines in all their guises were celebrated at The Field Top Dog Awards lunch at Defender Burghley Horse Trials whether eager on the peg, patient at home or perpetually making mischief

time-read
6 分  |
November 2024
Angling for success
The Field

Angling for success

It’s never too early to shape up for next season’s salmon and trout, and these top fishing schools are here to help

time-read
7 分  |
November 2024
Talking scents
The Field

Talking scents

The canine nose is an astonishingly complex piece of biotechnology that man has harnessed for sustenance and sport for thousands of years

time-read
7 分  |
November 2024
Wall-to-wall excitement
The Field

Wall-to-wall excitement

Criss-crossed by formidable drystone walls, the High Peak Harriers’ scenic country provides a day out with an exhilarating difference

time-read
7 分  |
November 2024