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* Attendances affected by closing of the private baths section for re-construction
Public Laundries
Two public laundries were opened in Tottenham during 1932 and it is significant to note
that patronage at both establishments has fluctuated but little. The trend has been one of a
gradual increase in post-war years when the highest attendance figures were attained.

At the time of their construction, both laundries were equipped in accordance with the
generally accepted practice associated with 'Public Wash-houses". To-day the term "'washhouse*
is a stigma and may be itself a deterrent to potential users. As in Tottenham many local
authorities are substituting the term "laundry". After twenty-seven years of almost continuous
operations the obsolete equipment in inadequate to meet the modern housewife's requirements.
In December 1959 the Bromley Road Laundry was reopened as a self-service laundry
following an 8 week period of closure for modernisation. The project provides for a complete
wash, dry and machine ironing process for any single classification of work up to a maximum of
25 lbs. dry weight for 3/6d. The total time for processing is less than 1 hour.
Automatic control has been exploited to the fullest possible extent and by virtue of its
economy of operation, plus increased revenue from increased income a substantial reduction in
the rate charge has been already made.