A hidden gem near Liverpool St. Station now used as a private event venue.
Notes & investigations…
History of Bath Houses in London
The population in Victorian London was expanding extremely rapidly. Between 1815 and 1860, tripled to reach over 3 million. This brought with it many problems, particularly with health and hygiene! The call for adequate washing facilities culminated in the Baths and Washhouses Act of 1846. This encouraged local authorities to build public baths, washhouses.
The population in Victorian London was expanding extremely rapidly. Between 1815 and 1860, tripled to reach over 3 million. This brought with it many problems, particularly with health and hygiene! The call for adequate washing facilities culminated in the Baths and Washhouses Act of 1846. This encouraged local authorities to build public baths, washhouses.
The population in Victorian London was expanding extremely rapidly. Between 1815 and 1860, tripled to reach over 3 million. This brought with it many problems, particularly with health and hygiene! The call for adequate washing facilities culminated in the Baths and Washhouses Act of 1846. This encouraged local authorities to build public baths, washhouses.
On the right, the spread of the Turkish Baths in London
overlaid on Booth’s Poverty Map. At the height of their popularity there were over 100 Turkish baths in London.
With Turkish baths being all the rage at the time, the Victorian Bath House Bishopsgate one was a huge hit with the public, that featured marble floors, hot rooms, and mosaics.
Designed by architect G. Harold Elphick for Victorian entrepreneur James Forde Neville and his brother Henry, and opened in February 1895.
It may look small from the outside at street level but most of it is located underground. The Bath House closed in 1954 and used as a Turkish Themed Club in the 70s. The venue now is as a Private Events Venue & Restaurant and closed to public.
The tiles were designed by Elphick and specially hand made by a firm Craven Dunnill in Shropshire, UK.
One intriguing aspect I discovered during my research was an eight-pointed star symbol, found on the building’s exterior and currently utilized as the venue’s logo. My curiosity led me to uncover the historical significance of this symbol, which began to appear in Islamic art during the Middle Ages. Interestingly, it is believed to be related to the earlier six-pointed star in Judaic designs, known as the “seal of Solomon.” According to Muslim legend, Solomon employed this star to capture djinns, the immaterial counterparts to humans.
Creative Output
Armed with this newfound historical perspective, I decided to create a model of the Victorian Bath House. Using my design skills, I produced an accurate vector-based illustration of the building. This artistic endeavor challenged me in terms of perspective, composition, and attention to detail, enhancing my ability to create lifelike scenes. It was also personally satisfying, contributing to the documentation and appreciation of this architectural gem.
The illustrations inspired me to take a step further. I utilized the original motifs and the colors from the building’s exterior to design two Turkish rugs. These rugs, filled with patterns and motifs derived from the actual structure, seamlessly blend art and history, reflecting the heritage of the Victorian Bath House.
To make my creations meaningful and accessible, I produced flyers detailing the history of the building. On the back of these flyers, I incorporated my rug designs. These flyers serve as a starting point for discussions and conversations among the guests of the Victorian Bath House, enabling them to leave with a piece of the venue’s rich history and a deeper appreciation for its heritage.
My exploration of the Victorian Bath House in Bishopsgate has been a rich and educational experience. From the initial observations of its exterior to delving into the historical context of Turkish bathhouses in 19th-century London, I have gained a profound appreciation for this beautiful building. The creative journey, which included designing rugs and informative flyers, has not only improved my skills as a designer but also (hopefully:) contributed to the preservation and celebration of the Victorian Bath House’s heritage.