Letters explanatory of the proposal that the public baths and wash-houses in Goulstone Square should be transferred to the City of London.

Date:: 1855

Credit: Letters explanatory of the proposal that the public baths and wash-houses in Goulstone Square should be transferred to the City of London. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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$When Louis Philippe was induced, on reading a statement by the Committee, to send over a Commission of Engineei’s to examine and report on the subject, it was represented to him that, what the Committee said they had done, was “ a physical impassibility/' That “ physical impossibility” is now contributing to the comfort of millions, yearly. A comparison of the cost of these works with the cost of the ten parochial establishments will decide the question of extrava- gant or economical expenditure by the Committee. The total cost of those ten parochial establishments, inclusive of their sites, may be taken (rejecting fractions) at <£^177,000. Making the large deduction of 6^20,000 for the 15 plunging baths, 1,134 private baths and washing places were provided for <£’157,000, being at the rate of <£’130 each. The 178 private baths and washing places in the model establishment were provided at the rate of about .£’157 each; but if only 15 per cent, be allowed as expenditure ne- cessarily incidental to a first building and unavoidably incurred on trial works, the full benefit of which was shared by all those parochial establishments, those 178 private baths and washing places were provided at the rate of about <£133 each ; tallying, as nearly as may be, with the outlay by the parishes. It is of course impossible to make an exact comparison of the cost of the various buildings, some having more conveniences— such as rooms for attendants—^than others; but, viewed with regard to its bathing and washing accommodation, and taking into account the houses attached to it, the model establishment may thus be estimated as being worth fully £23^000 to those who should desire to erect such a building. The following table shows the progress and success of that establishment from the outset, the working expenses being, of course, exclusive of the assistant secretary's salary, repairs, and committee-room expenses :— Year. Number of Bathers. Number of Washers. Receipts. Working Expenses 1849 1850 1861 1852 1863 1854 108,082 . 137,619 150,311 161,772 150,010 156,168 14,702 43,462 44,717 42,689 45,124 £ 1,406 2,060 2,707 2,896 2,976 3,036 £ 1,558 1,908 2,353 2,197 2,474 2,829 Totals 876,862 190,594 £15,081 £13,319$