View report page

33
are being prepared for the erection of a new public swimming
bath on the Council's site at Swiss Cottage.
Slipper Baths
Slipper baths are provided at the Central Baths in
Finchley Road and also at the two branch baths at Palmerston
Road and at Flask Walk. At the Central, Baths there are 12 baths
for women and there are 10 ordinary baths for men and 4 shower
baths. The shower baths have become very popular and they account
for approximately 35 per cent. of the men's trade.
The Palmerston Road Baths and the Flask Walk Baths were
originally provided by the Wells and Campden Trust in 1887.
Early in this century they were leased to the Council at a
nominal, rent. At Palmerston Road there are 14 slipper baths and
two showers and at Flask Walk there are 8 slipper baths and two
showers. In both cases the baths are used by men and women on
alternate days.
At all the establishments extra towels, soap and bath
cubes can be obtained for an additional charge.
The use of the baths has not decreased with the building
of new flats and houses containing bathrooms or with the addition
of bathrooms to existing houses, and this Is probably due to the
very large number of people in Hampstead who occupy bed-sitting
room or similar accommodation which is either without a bathroom
or where the bath Is shared. The use of the slipper baths and
showers runs at about 80,000 per year.
Washhouses
There is no public washhouse at the Central, Baths, the
laundry being used for washing towels, etc. used at the swimming
baths and in the Council's establishments.
At the Palmerston Road Baths the washhouse is equipped
with six electrically operated washing machines which were
adapted to automatic control in 1959. Other equipment comprises
five hydro-extractors (spin dryers) two tumbler dryers, 24 steam
heated drying horses, 11 hand-washing stalls and two electrically
powered mangles and facilities for Ironing clothes.
The Flask Walk Baths has four electrically operated
washing machines which are manually controlled, two hydroextractors,
16 steam heated drying horses, 16 hand-washing stalls,
an electrically powered mangle and facilities for Ironing clothes.