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The opening of Haggerston Baths in 1904
This article is from the Hackney and Kingsland Gazette on Monday June 27th, 1904	Baths and Washhouses for Haggerston Saturday's Opening Ceremony Interesting Gala Shoreditch is one of those go-ahead boroughs which regard public baths not as a luxury, but as an absolute necessity. Recognising the need which exists for further accommodation in this direction, the Borough Council have erected a second set of baths and washhouses, which were opened on Saturday afternoon by the Mayor (Mr. H. B. Bird J.P.) in the presence of a large gathering of Councillors, officials and leading ratepayers, besides many ladies and gentlemen from neighbouring boroughs.
Description of the new facilities - swimming baths, slipper baths and laundry.	The new building is situated in Mansfield-street, Kingsland-road, and has been erected at a total cost of £60,000. There is one swimming bath, as compared with two at Hoxton, but there is an increased number of slipper baths and more washhouse accomodation. The latter provides every facility - the most up-to-date washing troughs, wringin and mangling machines, driven by power, a large drying chamber, in addition to toher conveniences - and should prove an immense boon to the poor people of the district, mmore expecially to those occupying one of two-room tenements. The building is designed in the English Renaissance style, the elevatrions being faced with red brick and Portlandstone. The swimming bath whcih measure 100 feet by 35 feet is in the main hall, and has raised seating acoomodation onthe amphitheatre plan, in place of a gallery. With the exception of the newly opened Battersea Baths, it is the only one of its kind in London. An entirely new departure, however, is the placing of the dressing-boxes above instead of below the publc tiers - and arrangement whcih is intended to facilitate thorough superintendence, whilst at the same time it will afford spectators a much better view on gala nights. It is perhaps superfluous to add that the baths are lighted thouhout with electricity, and that it is generated at the Council's own works.
Pool finances 1904	Presiding at the opening ceremony, Councillor W.C.Elsdon (Chairman of the Baths and Washhouses Committee) gave some interesting details concerning the progress of the scheme. Five yeats ago, he said, the borough opened its first st of baths and washhouses in Pitfield-street, Hoxton; and to show how much they are appreciated, he mentioned that during the yuear ended March 31st last no less than 263,002 persons used the baths, 8,676 the gymnasium (erected for the winter months) and 49,860 the washhouses, the total recepts being £4,279 12s 3d - just about sufficient to pay for the maintenance charges. The purchase of the Haggerston site, within a wek of the Council hearring about it, was one of the smartest things Shoreditch had ever done. It's total cost was £6,330, whereas that at Hoxton was £15,700.
The architect	Mr Alfred W.S.Cross, the architect, stood in the front rank for building of that description, and the work was of the best and most substantial character.
At the opening ceremony one of the Councillors swam the length of the baths under water - is this something we could re-create?	The Mayor then declared the building open, and trusted - as he was sure they all did - that the undertaking would meet with the success and appreciation it deserved. Alderman E. J. Wakeling (Vice-chairman of the Committee) thereupon took the first plunge into the swimming bath amid loud applause, the worthy Alderman surprising everyone by swimming under water the full length of the bath.
MP's vote of thanks: "he should like to put up in every home in Haggerson a few rules pointing out to the people... the nesessity of embracing the opportunity afforded them by the baths.."	In a moving vote of thanks to the Mayor, Mr. W. R. Cremer, M.P. for Haggerston, congratulated the borough on the possession of such magnificent baths, remarking that Shoreditch was setting a splendid example to the rest of the Metropolis. They had now two of the finest bathing establishments to be found anywhere in the world, and it only remained for the people to take advantage of them and use them. He was afraid that their public schools did not pay sufficient attention to teaching the laws of health. (Hear, hear.) If he were able, he should like to put up in every home in Haggerson a few rules pointing out to the people, for their own personal comfort and health, the nesessity of embracing the opportunity afforded them by the baths, and of coming to them at least once a week. (Applause.) Lord Monkswell, L.C.C., seconded the motion, and siad he was glad to find that Haggerston was not lagging behind the rest of Shoreditch in teh matter of swimming accommodation. The water was so clear and tempting that no doubt all of them were feeling how much they would like a bath. (Laughter.) The vote of thanks was cordially passed, and the Mayor suitably responded.
LCC vote of thanks "stating that there was scarcely one house in the whole of Haggerston that had a bath."	Mr Graham Wallas, L.C.C., then proposed and Mr. Henry Ward, L.C.C., seconded a vote of thanks to the Committee for their services, which was also heartily passed, Alderman E. J. Wakeling ably replying. Mr Wallas remarked that he considered the Haggerston swimming bath the best in London for children, as the edge was of india-rubber, as was alsoteh platform roudn the bath. Thanks were afterwards accorded the Chairman on the motion of Alderman Sawell, seconded by Councillor Dr Davies the proposer, in alluding to the need of baths, stating that there was scarcely one house in the whole of Haggerston that had a bath.
The Gala	An excellent swimming entertainment was then given under the direction of Alderman Wakeling, amonst the spectators being the Hon. Rupert Guinness (Conservative candidate for the division).
Memories of Haggerston Baths Interview with Lillian Gullis, Ada Alleway and Eileen Talor
Lillian Gullis, Ada Alleway and Eileen Talor are all residents of Clifford Lawton House in Whiston Road.	Lillian Gullis, who was born in 1914 and learnt to swim in Haggerston pool. She went to Scoffied Street school and said that the swimming was free from the school. Ada Alleway went to school in Canal road and remembers going swimming once a week from there. Eileen Taylor went to Queensbridge Road school and was stopped from swimming because she had rheumatic fever. They are all residents of Clifford Lawton House in Whiston Road. Here's what they had to say about Haggerston Baths.
Swimming Baths	"The teachers used to march you through the streets hand in hand going to the baths house. We also went swimming in the summer holidays which was great because we had nowhere else to go. We went as much as we could - everyday or anyday because we had a lot of fun there. "The pool was lovely - and we all got our certificates - 10yards, 25 yards, 100 yards and life saving. You all got a swimming costume and a towel when you went in. We didn't wear hats then. The cozzies were just ordinary flanellette - slip on - nothing glamourous. The way we learnt to swim - you'd have a big pole put under your chin - and some times you used to go under. Then you used to do it to one another.
Washing Baths	"You put your washing in a tub that used to go round like a dolly - then come out and put it out on a roller - as wide as a room - and then you'd put it on a great big horse that they'd put in the heat and shut him in and it was all hot. Went in for hours. When you came home it was all lovely and ironed. "We used to have a laugh. People used to put their woollies in too hot and they'd come out shrunk. A jumper would come out doll size. You used to pass the afternoon - although you'd gone to do your washing you'd have fun there. You all knew one another like next door neighbours - because you all went regular on the same day. "The laundry's been shut about 10 years - we were told that they shut it for a while to modernise it - but it never re-opened.
Hot Baths	"It cost a penny or tuppence - with the posh one you got soap - if you paid cheap you had to take your own soap. You got all your towels and they was like boards - right hard. But if your mum was well off you could take your own towels. We only had a bath once a week - it was really needed but it was a luxury. The baths were all marble tiles and you'd sit around playing different games until they'd call you out a number. "They had nice dressing rooms where you got ready to get in - you all undressed in front of one another. The rooms were like a cubicle with just a seat and a nice big deep bath. You'd holler out 'More hot water for number 5' and lady who was in charge would say 'Get away from the taps', because you couldn't turn on the taps yourself. But if that other flash woman was there - we were frightened of her - she'd shout 'You're not getting anymore - hurry up and get out'. "You had to get out so quick because you could only spend a certain time and it was so steamy that you couldn't dry your self properly. You're number was up by the time you'd got your stockings on - you'd come out and your legs was all red.
The War	"We were all evacuated during the war. We came back when the lull was on. The swimming pool wasn't open but the hot baths were - they used to come in and measure that you only had 5 inches of water. The bombing was terrible. The Pitfield Street baths were banged by a rocket. And Nuttall Street was really badly bombed - they were buried alive there. The baths were lucky not to get hit - but they must have taken a lot from the blasts".