Turkish baths in Birmingham

[mikejee]

This cutting is from th ebirmingham Post 12.9.1862. I am not sure whether it is a story about, or an advert for, the turkish baths in The Crescent, probably th elatteras often the two are mixed up in the paper at this time. I like the description of the area as being semi-rural.

 

[Vivienne14]

Mike, that's a good description of how the Turkish Bath worked. How interesting that it was called 'a fine art' ! As for it being semi-rural this 1820s Crescent Wharf drawing from https://blackcountrymuse.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoid=159489294
tells a quite different story. Would I be right in thinking that the Crescent buildings can be seen in the background? Or is it Baskerville House/ Broad Street? Viv

View attachment 80866

 

[carolina]

[SIZE=+2]TURKISH BATHS,
14, CRESCENT, CAMBRIDGE STREET,
BIRMINGHAM,
OPEN DAILY (SUNDAYS EXCEPTED)
[/SIZE][SIZE=+1]FROM 8 A.M. TILL 8 P.M.
[/SIZE]For Gentlemen, 3/6, 2/6, and 2/- each; and for Ladies (Public), on Tuesdays
and Fridays, 2/6; other days (Private), 3/6 each.
[SIZE=+1]FIRST-CLASS SHAMPOOERS ENGAGED
VAPOUR, SULPHUR, AND MEDICATED BATHS.
LIST OF TERMS.
[/SIZE]

Mercurial Vapour Bath . . Sulphur Bath . . . . . . . . Private Vapour Bath . . . Public Vapour Bath . . .

4/- each. 4/- " 1/6 " 1/- "

Douche Bath. . . . . Sanatorium Bath . . . Sitz Bath. . . . . . . . Shower Bath. . . . . .

1/- each. 1/- " 1/- " 1/- "

N.B.—The only Establishment in the Midland Counties where you can have such a variety of Baths for the purposes of luxury and health.

JAMES MELLING, Proprietor. M. MELLING, Superintendent of Ladies.

 

[mikejee]

I. have copied these posts to a new thread . The following information is from the English Heritage book "Victorian Turkish Baths" by Malcolm Shifrin.
The first Turkish Baths were opened by James Melling in The Crescent in September 1862. This was followed shortly after on boxing day 1862, when William Edward Wiley tentatively opened his baths, followed by a formal opening on 13th February. He decided to charge the same as Mellish (3s6d, 2s6d,1s6d & 1s) but also offered free admission to the working classes "on the recommendation of any medical genteman". Originally Wiley estimated the baths could cater for 200, but later scaled that down to a more reasonable 50.
The site of Wiley's baths was the site of another of his enterprises, his pencil & pen factory in Frederick st, built in 1862 mainly to hold his pen business, but which, at the north end,next to the boiler house, also held his Turkish Baths. The baths covered three floors, working men on the first floor, gentlemen on the second, and ladies on the third floor, the ladies section opening slightly later. Despite the class distinction each suite apparently was the same, comprising a 10ft long cooling room, three hot rooms (55-77°C or higher) and a shampooing room. The experience was exotic. On entry male bathers would be greeted by a bare-footed boy in Turkish costume, would remove shoes and be taken to the cooling room which had stained glass and arabish decoration. and red-curtained cubicles and couches. Chess , billiards , papers and chibouks (long clay pipes) were available. It is not clear whether those on the first floor were similarly treated, or indeed what was the procedure for ladies.
The hot rooms had Sicilian marble walls, with a wooden bench in the centre. A hose was in the shampooing room.
The baths closed around 1870 , but the main building remains as the Argent Centre.



Of the three entrance that were necessary to separate working class from "gentlemen" and ladies, two are now blocked up, but one remains, and the position of the others can be seen

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