Extension: Baths and Wash Houses Marshall Street, Westminster

Extensions to the public baths and washhouses of the Parish of St. James, Westminster, in Marshall-street, Golden square, have recently been completed, from the designs of Messrs. Spalding & Cross. Great success appears to have attended these baths ever since their erection in 1851, and £121,893 has been received from the six and three-quarter millions of bathers and washers who have used the baths during the forty years of their existence. The building was erected in 1851 on the site of a freehold house, No. 16. Marshall-street, then in the occupation of the Paving Commissioners, and was extended in 1861 by the appropriation and adaptation of the two adjoining houses, Nos. 17 and18, Marshall-street, under Mr. Charles Lee, architect. The present additions have covered the site occupied by Nos. 14 and 15, Marshall-street. The space has l3een devoted to a first-class swimming-bath, of moderate dimensions, on the ground floor. An ample basement is secured by building the bath on continuous arches, and this will serve as an ample storage space in connexion with the stone yard, which is at the back. The aim of the architects appears to have been to relieve the interior fittings of the dreary monotony which is too often present in London baths, and by the use of glazed tiles and marble in the floor covering, and similar tiles which completely cover the wall surfaces, and are relieved by hand-painted tile panels and figures judiciously distributed, a satisfactory and refreshing result has been obtained. The bath, which is entirely lighted from the roof, has gangways on three sides, and the dressing-boxes are arranged in a series of arched recesses at the sides, separated from the bath platform by semi-circular headed openings, the piers of which receive the ends of the semi-circular shaped wrought-iron roof principals. The roof soffits are covered with enamelled iron ceiling- plates. The basement contains the establishment laundry and the boilers which contribute the hot water for the swimming-bath. Messrs. Simpson & Son supplied the ceiling-plates and tile work generally, whilst the iron roof principals were supplied by Messrs. Homan & Rodgers, and the heating arrangements are by Messrs. Berry & Sons, of Westminster. The general contract was carried out by Messrs. Gould & Brand, of Camden Town. [Builder 5 August 1893 page 98]

Reference        Builder 24 October 2891 page 319 - contracts       
Reference        Builder 5 August 1893 page 98