The Royal Victoria Monkstown and Passage Baths:
seen in 1849, eleven years after they opened.
These baths were opened eighteen years before Victorian Turkish baths made their debut at St Ann's Hydropathic Establishment, near Blarney, in 1856, but they were fairly comprehensive for their time. When first built, they comprised slipper and shower baths with a cold plunge pool, all of which were luxuriously fitted out.
According to Colman O'Mahony in his well-documented book The Maritime Gateway to Cork, they were claimed as being the equal of any in Europe so far as quality of fitment was concerned, with marble baths and individual dressing rooms. Male and female servants were in attendance and invalids were welcomed.
A warm bath cost 1/6d, warm and cold showers cost 7d and 6d, and a cold plunge (including a towel) cost 2d. Discounts were available whenever half a dozen, or a dozen, tickets were bought at the same time.
Marcia D'Alton for leading me to this image, and the accompanying information
Daniel Moynihan for helping me determine the date of the image
This page enlarges an image or adds to the information found below:
Glenbrook: Dr Curtin's Hydropathic Establishment
& the Victoria Baths and Family Hotel
Victorian Turkish Baths: their origin, development, and gradual decline
Comments and queries are most welcome and can be sent to:
malcolm@victorianturkishbath.org
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has been asserted by him
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© Malcolm Shifrin, 1991-2023