RATIONAL RECREATIONS Swimming and Bathing

Swimming and Bathing Develop understanding of the development of bathing to it becoming a rational activity Consideration of the cultural influences on these developments Investigate how participation is affected today

The transition from… The Village The Regency Spa Movement Victorian Sea Bathing Public Schools Nineteenth century Public Baths

Swimming and Bathing

In the Middle Ages almost all towns were built by rivers for ….. Towns and Villages In the Middle Ages almost all towns were built by rivers for ….. SECURITY SUPPLY OF FOOD COMMUNICATION CROSSING POINT CLEANLINESS

Activities on the Riverbank The Town Activities on the Riverbank Boating Fishing Sailing Shooting Bathing Swimming Ice activities

Swimming in the Town and Village Bathing for recreational purposes Bathing for fun in the warm weather Learning to swim to save life Swimming to win races Cleanliness Where would you swim?

The Inland Spa … Bath

The Regency Spa Movement ‘The Water Cure’ Initially for the Upper Classes Aristocracy wished to display their wealth Led to the development of fashionable inland ‘spas’ such as Bath, Buxton and Harrogate Springs to drink from, baths to bathe in, cold water immersion , indoor plunge baths Therapeutic treatment after exercises The middle classes wished to copy the upper class Upper class reluctant to mix socially with urban middle class The upper class went to continental spas and seaside

Harrogate…taking the Waters Springs to drink from …

…. baths to bathe in, cold water immersion, indoor plunge baths

Before taking the Waters

After taking the Waters! Therapeutic?

The Middle Classes … wished to copy the upper class and enjoy the spas … the upper classes reluctant to mix socially with the urban middle class …. the upper classes went to continental spas to escape the middle classes But…. The seaside was the main attraction!

Health Social Fashionable Holidays Victorian Sea Bathing Health Social Fashionable Holidays

Bathing in the nude led to exclusive beaches, socially exclusive and single-sexed. Bye laws restricted beaches to certain social groups and denied mixed bathing

Only when bathing machines were introduced were men and women allowed to bathe on the same beach. Use of changing cabins and ‘dippers’ to introduce / immerse the ladies into the water

Oh, I do love to be by the Seaside Resorts such as Brighton, Margate attracted the aristocracy

Consider the impact of the railways on the growth of the seaside habit The railways.. ‘made available facilities previously enjoyed only by a privileged minority’

First Class….. The Upper Class Initially a fashionable winter activity for health Gentry had time to enjoy prolonged stay Upper class moved on to avoid the middle class

The seaside.. an expression of class and wealth

‘to drink and bathe in the seawater soon established itself as a fashionable medical and social regime’

..any garment ‘which did not completely cover the body from the neck to the knees’ would have been judged indecent

….taking advantage of Thomas Cook’s tours The Upper Class With the middle classes invading the previously exclusive seaside resorts the upper classes moved on…. ….taking advantage of Thomas Cook’s tours

Second Class….. The Middle Class Middle class copied the gentry going to resorts for a shorter time Middle class only had weekends and a week’s holiday Middle class moved on to avoid the working class

The Middle Class and the Working Class … would go to the nearest resort…. North = Blackpool, Scarborough South = Margate, Brighton, Swanage When the w/c arrived in Brighton / Blackpool the m/c moved to Hove / Lytham

Third Class….. The Working Class Working class only had day excursions, little time or money Patronised by factory owners who paid expenses Trains took w/c right to beaches to avoid upsetting locals

Boy Culture Liberal Heads Athleticism In their free time, similar to that found at home Place to play, release from study One of the main facilities for washing Meeting place for the boys Survival, boys teaching others Liberal Headmasters Control of the boys, discipline Place where the Sixth Form showed responsibility Constructive use of free time Prevented illness, disease in School Discouraged trespass, poaching Spartan, character building Safety, concern over drowning, importance for rowing

Boy Culture Liberal Heads Athleticism The ’Ducker’ equipped for swimming and diving Purpose built facility, supervised, therefore, safe House / School / Public School Championships Organised lessons, regulations before rowing allowed Concern over a healthy lifestyle / personal hygiene Effort / physical endeavour encouraged Prowess at swimming recognised but not seen as important as team games Saving life / bravery / toughness / leadership Athleticism reflected in quality of facilities

The Harrow School Duck Puddle It may have started out as a duck pond, but Old Harrovian money had long since changed it into a major bathing facility.

‘The Ducker’ ‘Ducker lies just across the road, and therein swimming, diving and racing of all kinds is practised. Every boy, unless he holds a medical certificate, is compelled to learn to swim, though the distance which qualifies for a pass is not great. On a hot holiday afternoon, boys lounge there for hours, sometimes in the water and sometimes wrapped in their large ducker towels lying on the warm pavement, eating the “tuck” they are careful to provide for themselves’

Nineteenth Century Public baths

Public Baths Wash House Acts 1846 to “clean up the lower classes” … the smell, the dirt, the habits Government grants to encourage building of baths Particularly industrial towns with large numbers of w/c Impact of Cholera epidemics of 1830’s Separate indoor heated baths for men and women Separate plunge pools for m/c and w/c Maximum of one penny per visit, ‘penny baths’ Included washing and clothes washing facilities

Nineteenth Century Public Baths

Town Baths Industrialisation and urbanisation initiated the building of urban, public baths Major towns encouraged to build public baths to reduce incidence of disease Swimming baths and public parks a matter of civic pride Towns provided Turkish baths which usually had a plunge pool

Motives… “to clean up the lower classes” Prevent the spread of disease Increase work efficiency Provide opportunities for sport Provision for washing Pleasure, fun, recreation

Nineteenth Century Public Baths

Competitive Swimming Plunge baths allowed organised club swimming and club championships WHO DID THIS? 1869 – mc clubs meet to set laws for amateur swimming 1874 form Swimming Association of GB 1884 becomes Amateur Swimming Association Initially seeks to exclude lower classes (like rowing and athletics) – but soon (by 1880’s) clubs for the lower classes became established with grudging support of ASA

By 1880s swimming and water polo clubs were being formed by the working classes in industrial areas

Water polo was a popular game for the working classes

A Wintery Summary RECREATIONAL Natural facilities / rivers / ponds Fun/ Cleanliness / Safety / Food WATER CURE/ SEA BATHING health / fashionable Spa towns e.g. Buxton for ’the cure’ Therapeutic – indoor plunge baths Summer bathing made the custom more popular Impact of the railways on w/c, m/c, u/c

Stage 1 – informal bathing in natural facilities = similar to Pop rec PUBLIC SCHOOLS Stage 1 – informal bathing in natural facilities = similar to Pop rec Stage 2 – more regular & regulated bathing – part of healthy lifestyle Stage 3 – technical developments – changing huts, diving boards, improved facilities. Competitions. Swimming attendants for teaching & safety PUBLIC BATHS Wash House Acts to prevent spread of disease Government grants for public baths Intended to “clean up the lower classes” Separate pools for men / women; m/c / w/c Cleanliness and learning to swim ASA 1884.

Exam Question Jan 2010 Explain the development of public baths in urban industrial communities in the 19thC. To what extent do developmental factors from the 19thC continue to impact on participation and performance today? (20marks)