Fulham Baths and Washouses – 1902. Charming architecture
Fulham Baths Above. Courtesy of Hammersmith & Fulham Libraries 1994
Fulham Baths quote – “Looking out from the Superintendants Apartment one could see a vast array of skylights and roofs charmingly set off by a squat chimney…
…If one stands in the corridor on the southernmost side they enjoy a vast sweep of distance which is curious. we can understand why one official has the habit of cycling from point to point along the corridors…..”
“The Fulham Baths seem to have had a very encouraging opening. Monday nights gathering was distinctly hopeful, and since then the patronage of the public baths has been well marked. It is impossible to gauge the value which will be set upon the private baths, but the intervals of sunny weather have bought many to the other departments. Quite 200 swimmers on Tuesday and Wednesday disported themselves in the first class bath, and in the second class receptacle to which the admission fee is but 2d there must have been 400……”
Fulham Baths were built between Melmoth Place leading into Hartismere Road. Mr Pearson was the Architect. “Looking out from the Superintendants Apartment one could see a vast array of skylights and roofs charmingly set off by a squat chimney. If one stands in the corridor on the southernmost side they enjoy a vast sweep of distance which is curious. we can understand why one official has the habit of cycling from point to point along the corridors…..” Chronicle 1902.
Fulham Men’s and Mixed Baths
There were 3 Baths in all – The Mens Main Bath; the Ladies Second Class Bath and Mixed Baths. Despite this segregation most of the times both sexes equally enjoyed sessions swimming in either baths, but still keeping males from females.The Ladies Bath (Northend Road) underwent refurbishmentand and was reopened on Friday 24th September 1937 by Alderman C Lancaster. The noticable difference having had all the old poolside changing boxes removed. A false ceiling hiding the steel girders, and ventilation systems had been installed. The pool deck was of non slip mosaic the walls glazed with tile dado to the height of the doors. The pool was 75ft X 25ft with dressing boxes in other sections.
“Fulham Baths. This is not destruction forever. This was towards refurbishment…” Will expand +
Fulham Baths reopening in 1937
The Mens Bath was larger 100 ft X 30 ft and the Mixed Bath larger still 120 ft x 33 ft. All of the older poolside dressing boxes were removed and housed in differents sections using th “Hyg-Gard-All” system. Depth of all pools varied between 3ft 6ins – 8ft. An “interesting innovation” was the provision of a Cafe centrally placed between the baths where bathers obtained refreshments.[…]
Read more…Wandsworth Baths
The main Mens Bath was floored over on occasions for other events including being fitted out as a bowling green during 1934.
OUTCOME: After serving Fulham Community for 77 years, their beloved baths were doomed. Sieges took place inside and outside the baths for three years, including 80 years old Grandma Mrs Alice Davies who fiercely protected her “home” for near part of a year since 1979.
Fulham Baths “Annie will fight the judge” She was determined but…sadly Annie lost the battle
Alice had slept on a mattress in one corner of the vast echoing building vouching that the bailiffs would have to carry her out. She led 70 protesters and changed the locks.
Her fight was for the children and old people of Fulham. Eventually Annie was to lose her battle and was evicted. She lost her final round of her long legal fight to stop Fulham and Hammersmith demolishing the baths.
Despite demolishing work beginning in 1981 Annie and other protesters continued the fight to save their beloved baths. By October 1981 the Fulham Baths site was cleared, BUT the front Grade 11 listed facade remains, and through and behind are the Dance Attic Studios.
A story of valiant vigilance
Once upon a time the Facade of Fulham Baths was preserved with a Dance Attic behind.
Google shows today that the facade and apex/attic has now gone and converted with modern day windows with new apartments running alongside to the right in Shorrolds Road off North End Road, all of which must have been the Fulham Baths site.
Will expand to full view ++
What a brave adamant lady Alice was.
[…] https://www.lostlidos.co.uk/1998/06/29/fulham-baths-1902/ “Opposite the church St John’s Parish Hall, now attractive offices and a bar, was once the hub of a network of clubs, societies and social support. The Batty brothers, vicar and curate, worked the parish in the 1880’s, declaring that light, colour, movement and joy should be the marks of Christian worship making churchgoing as attractive as the Edwardian comedian Dan Leno made his theatre in Walham Green, now the site of Barclays Bank. St John’s continues to work to support our local community with a place of peace, beauty and joy.” (St John’s Church, Fulham) […]
Editor Anne: Fulham Baths facade is opposite the church of St John.
Not sure who Annie was – she might have been one of the many occupants. Alice did not sleep in the Baths except maybe for a couple of days, but was a vigilant doorkeeper for the occupation.. We, the many who occupied the Baths, supported by the Hammersmith Trades Council, had a rota of sleepers-in.
Thank you for sharing Cecilia! Anne
Back in around 1967 or so our Dad was assigned to London. Our Mum put our Brother and myself into a school near Kensington.
My class had 2 weekly field trips. On Thursday we would go to Barnes Commons by public transport…and on Fridays we would bus it to The Feltham Baths *swimming pools*. The baths were in a massive old building with changing rooms and massive skylights in the ceilings. It was truly a step back into another time. One if the reasons I loooved living in London
I worked in the ofice at Fulham Baths as a Clerk/Typist between April 1960 to August 1972 when I left for maternity reasons. Does anyone out there remember any of the staff during that time.