London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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St James's 1896

Report for the year 1896 made to the Vestry of Saint James's, Westminster

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40
The following particulars relating to the Public Baths
and Wash-houses in this Parish give a short history of the
undertaking:—
The Vestry of St. James adopted the Act to encourage the
establishment of Public Baths and Wash-houses within
four months of its having received the Royal assent.
On the 26th August, 1846, the Royal assent was given
to the Act in question, and on the 10th December, in
the same year, the Vestry decided to establish Public
Baths and Wash-houses in the Parish. Consequently,
St. James was one of the first Local Authorities to
give the ratepayers the advantages afforded by the
legislature. Seven Commissioners having been appointed
to carry the Act into execution, some delay
occurred in the selection of a suitable site in consequence
of the difficulty of obtaining land owing to the
whole of the parish being built upon.
Ultimately, with the approval of the Vestry, Public Baths
and Wash-houses were erected on the site of 16,
Marshall Street, the freehold of which belonged to the
Parish, and over a portion of the Workhouse stoneyard
adjoining. The building was opened to the public
in 1852 and proved itself an immediate success. In
the course of a few years to meet the increased demand
for improved accommodation for bathing, especially for
women, the Commissioners decided to extend the
building, and in 1860 they obtained the necessary
consents to appropriate a further portion of the Parish
property in Marshall Street (Nos. 17 & 18). The
increased accommodation provided by this extension
was generally appreciated, and the number of bathers
and washers continued to increase until the maximum
was reached in 1865, when 160,480 tickets were issued
to bathers and 70,057 to washers, or a total of 230,537
tickets in one year.
d

Statement of Receipts and Expenditure.

Receipts.Expenditure.
1896.£s.d.£s.d.1897, Mar. 25.£s.d.£s.d.
Jan. 1 To Balance1,1201911½By Salaries and Wages1,537115
1897„ Fuel5271610
Mar. 25 ,, Receipts from Bathers and Washers :,, Water58806
,, Gas198135
,, Renewals and Repairs26320
Bathers2,042188,, Printing, Stationery and Advertising57160
Washers1,594176,, Rates, Taxes and Insurance169115
Bath Soap and Laundry Requisites148183,7851710,, Soap, Soda and Oilman's Goods9905
,, Engineer's and Mechanics' Materials for Repairs94159
Towel Washing, Piccadilly Lavatories19106,, Interest on Loan8176
,, Instalments of Principal of Loan60000
,, Interest allowed by Bankers919620100,, Draper1137
,, Towelling, Costumes, &c.44108
Brush maker21188
Sweep1000
Petty Disbursements273
4,33211
Balance—At Bankers77634
Less due to Superintendent on Wages and Petty Cash Accounts0170
77564
£5,10717£5,10717