Victorian Turkish Baths

Malcolm R. Shifrin

ISBN 10: 1848022301 / ISBN 13: 9781848022300

Published by Historic England, 2016

About this Item

The first book to reveal the hidden history and explore the architecture, technology and sociology of the Victorian Turkish Bath in the British Isles and beyond. With almost 500 illustrations, a full bibliography, and an illustrated glossary, the book examines all aspects of the baths. Num Pages: 384 pages, 450. BIC Classification: 1DBKE; 3JH; AMG. Category: (G) General (US: Trade). Dimension: 287 x 231 x 29. Weight in Grams: 1690. . 2016. UK ed. Hardcover. . . . . Books ship from the US and Ireland.

Seller Inventory # V9781848022300

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Victorian Turkish Baths
• Publisher: Historic England
• Publication Date: 2016
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1848022301
• ISBN 13: 9781848022300
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

Victorian Turkish Baths is the first book to bring to light the hidden history of a fascinating institution―the 600-plus dry hot-air baths descended from the ancient Roman thermae―which opened between 1856 and 1975. They started in Ireland, almost immediately spreading around Britain and the countries of the 19th century British Empire. Soon they were copied in Europe―where they are known as Irish-Roman baths―and crossed the Atlantic Ocean, where they could be found in almost all of the United States of America.

Malcolm Shifrin traces the bath’s Irish-Roman antecedents, looking at how its origins were influenced by the combination of physician Richard Barter’s hydropathic expertise, and idiosyncratic diplomat David Urquhart’s passion for the hammams of the Middle East.

The book reveals how working-class members of a network of political pressure groups built more than 30 of the first Turkish baths in England. It explores the architecture, technology and sociology of the Victorian Turkish bath, examining everything from business and advertising to sex–real and imagined. This book offers a wealth of wondrous detail – from the baths used to treat sick horses to those for first-class passengers on the Titanic.

Victorian Turkish Baths will appeal to those interested in Victorian social history, architecture, social attitudes to leisure, early public health campaigns, pressure groups, gendered spaces and much else besides. The book is complemented by the author’s widely respected website victorianturkishbath.org, where readers can find a treasure trove of further information.

About the Author

Malcolm Shifrin is former Head of the Inner London Education Authority's Central Library Resources Service and has written extensively on the fascinating history and sociology of the bath. Malcolm was awarded a Fellowship of the Royal Historical Society (FRHistS) following the publication of Victorian Turkish Baths (2015).