Camberwell Baths Artichoke Place, Camberwell, London.
PUBLIC BATHS AT CAMBERWELL - We hear that the professional referee in this competition, Mr. Charles Barry, F.S.A., has recommended the design of Messrs. Spalding & Cross for the public baths on the Camberwell-green site, and that it has been adopted by the Camberwell Baths Commissioners. The estimated cost of the building is about £24,000. [Builder 8 November 1890 page 366]
CAMBERWELL GREEN BATHS AND WASH HOUSES - This design, of which we publish two views, interior and exterior, was the one selected by the Camberwell Baths and Wash-house Commissioners (acting under the advice of Mr. Charles Barry, F.S.A., their professional assessor) in the recent limited competition.
As in the case of the baths to be erected on the East Dulwich-road site, by the same architects, the whole of the requisite accommodation for bathers has been provided on the ground floor, and the simplicity of plan thus ensured, in addition to securing the utmost possible convenience to the public making use of the establishment, facilitates an economical system of administration with efficiency of working, easy and effective supervision, and minimum cost of construction. The men's and women’s baths have separate entrances, between these is placed the check-taker’s office, so that one person can take the money from both sexes and classes. The following slipper bath accommodation has been provided: 24 men’s first-class slipper baths.40men’s, second-class baths; 12 women’s first-class baths; 20women’s second-class baths. Each of these sets or groups (all amply lighted and ventilated) is complete in itself with waiting-room, w.c., etc.., and each attendant in charge of a department can easily supervise the adjoining one by means of the direct through communication that has been provided. The first-class swimming bath for men is near the men’s entrance, with direct access from it as well as from their private baths. Its size is 120 feet by 35 feet.
As this bath is on certain days to be set apart for women, a separate access thereto has been provided from the first-class women’s waiting room, which room, like the men’s first-class waiting-room, would be shut off from the swimming bath whenever necessary, in order to insure absolute privacy to the swimming bath. The men's second-class baths are also conveniently planned, and are directly approached by a wide corridor from the men's separate entrance. Eighty-one dressing boxes are provided for the men’s first-class swimming-bath, whilst for use in connexion with the second-class swimming-bath (which is of similar size to the first class bath viz, 120 feet by 35 feet), there are 103 dressing-boxes.The whole of the accommodation required has been provided, including a superintendent’s corridor for the easy supervision of the whoei of the departments, and a gallery to the first class bath, in connexion with which there are un usually spacious staircases, both for convenient access thereto, and in order to meet the stringent regulations now in force for facilitating free and rapid egress in case of panic.
In view of the utilisation of the first-class swimming-bath as a public hall, it has been thought desirable to connect it by means of swing folding-doors with the corridor leading direct to Harvey-road, and in accordance with the instructions, two artistes’ retiring-rooms fitted with lavatories, have been provided. These rooms are in communication with the north end of the first-class swimming-bath where it is proposed to place the platform for the performers, who would probably enter the building from the Harvey-road. All or any of the waiting rooms adjoining the entrances from Artichoke-row would be available for cloak rooms; the refreshment - room being placed for convenience of service, on the first floor immediately adjoining the kitchen. The wash-house department has been placed at the end of the site next Harvey-road, from which it is directly accessible, and has seventy-eight washing compartments. The boiler-house, coal store, etc., with good external access from Harvey-road, are placed in the basement of this department, and would be separated from the upper part by fireproof floors. As the proposed building, in addition to having its front set back some 22 feet from the main street, adjoins some very lofty buildings, the authors considered it might be advantageous to incorporate a tower in the design for the principal facade, but this architectural embellishment could be omitted, if thought desirable, without materially injuring the design.
It is proposed to erect the buildings with sound, hard, well-burnt bricks. The fronts abutting on Artichoke-row and Harvey-road would be faced with the best red bricks with buff terra-cotta dressings. The entrance steps and all staircases would be of granolithic concrete, and all balusters, etc., of iron. All drains to be glazed stoneware pipes, with Stanford’s patent joints and embedded in concrete. The internal walls throughout would be plastered or faced with white Suffolk bricks, and the insides of the swimming-baths lined with white, glazed bricks. All floors and passages would be of fireproof construction, and the flooring round the swimming baths would be finished with ornamental tiling, and a curbed and sunk channel would be formed in order to prevent the surface water from passing into the baths. The 1st class private baths would be of porcelain, and the 2nd class of enamelled iron. The front roofs would be tiled with Broseley tiles, and the roofs of the swimming baths covered with the best Bangor duchess slates. The heating apparatus would be placed in the basement of the wash-house block, and the tanks for the storage of water would be placed in the tower of the front block. A service laundry is provided, which would be thoroughly fitted up with every requisite appliance, and spacious drying closets are provided. The estimated cost of the proposed buildings is about £24.000. Messrs. Spalding & Cross are the architects. [Builder 13 December 1890 page 462.]