View report page

9
" Recommend—That they be autherised to engage Mr. Henry Ward to act as their
Consulting Engineer, to advise them upon this work, and supervise its execution, at
a fee equal to 5 per cent. upon the cost of the work."
This recommendation was approved by the Vestry, and Mr. Ward was accordingly
engaged, and he prepared specifications and working drawings for carrying out
the work on the lines suggested, which he advised, would be entirely satisfactory.
FOUNDATION STONE.
On the 1st May, 1897, the ceremony of the laying of the foundation stone of the
Baths and Washhouses was performed, in the presence of a large number of people,
by Mr. H. T. Sawell, J.P., the then Chairman of the Vestry. A report of the proceedings,
which appeared in a local paper at that time, will be found in the appendix
to this report.
ACCOMMODATION.
The accommodation provided in the Shoreditch Baths is as follows :—
Men's 1st Class.—20 private baths, 1 public swimming bath 100 feet long and 40 feet
wide. There are 68 dressing boxes around this bath, and these are made to
fold back apainst the wall, so that the space they occupy is then added to the
area of the hall.
Men's 2nd Class.—36 private baths, 1 public swimmine bath 75 feet long and 35 feet
wide. There are 56 dressing boxes around this bath, and a foot bath is also
provided.
Ladies' 1st Class.—5 private baths.
Ladies' 2nd Class.—15 private baths.
All the above departments, with their separate waiting rooms attached, are
placed on the ground floor level, and each department has a separate entrance from
the public streets.
The large swimming bath will be licensed by the London County Council as a
public hall for entertainments, and ample and direct ingress and egress has been
provided by the three separate entrances in Pitfield Street, Coronet Street, and
Bowling Green Walk. The necessary cloak and retiring rooms and other accommodation
is afforded by the utilization of the club and waiting rooms. The public hall
when floored over will accommodate about 1,200 persons on the ground floor and 530
seats are provided in the gallery.
Good residential accommodation is provided for the Superintendent in the upper
part of the Pitfield Street building, and is approached by a separate staircase. The
Board room and office is on the first floor, and is approached by a separate staircase
from the entrance hall.