1. Popular Recreation. Aims:
Awareness of characteristics of popular recreation.
Understanding of social reasons for these characteristics.
Able to “fit” the sporting case study of bathing with these accepted characteristics.

3. Bathing.
In the Middle Ages, towns were built at defensive sites and river crossings.
People swam for fun and enjoyment.
The river was the centre of commercial life, provided a supply of food, and a means of transport.
Learning to swim for safety became a necessity. Important as learning to walk!!

4. The History of Bathing.
The Roman nobility and the English aristocracy of the Middle Ages considered swimming a part of the Chivalric code.
“The courteous and gallant behaviour associated with the aristocracy”
They sometimes sponsored outstanding lower class swimmers to represent them in wager races.
In which activity have we seen this before? What is this called?
In 17th & 18th century swimming contest held on the Thames and first open air swimming bath built in London in 1784.

5. Thames Frost Fair
Occasionally, the river would freeze, providing a surface for multi sports festivals called ‘Frost Fairs’ or ‘Ice Fairs’.
A variety of fairground stalls, Bull baiting, prize fighting, sliding, football and feasting.
The Thames froze in 1813 as shown in the picture, and a four day fair was set up.

6. RECREATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS
POPULAR BATHING SOCIAL
localised………… ……minimal travel
rural……………… ….village-county
occupational… land/cottage
occasional……… limited free time
courtly/popular feudal patronage
cruel/violent…… ……..harsh society
ritual/festival… ……pagan origins
limited coding ………………literacy
wagering……… ……rags to riches

7. BATHING & SWIMMING IN PRE-INDUSTRIAL BRITAIN
What can you see in the picture?
What were the four main
reasons for BATHING?
C R
cleanliness recreation
S Sp
survival sport

8. BATHING & SWIMMING IN PRE-INDUSTRIAL BRITAIN
C is for CLEANLINESS
No bathrooms or swimming baths at this time, only natural waterways and wells.
no work happy community
CLEANLINESS
good ill from
health disease R
S Sp

9. BATHING & SWIMMING IN PRE-INDUSTRIAL BRITAIN
R is for Recreation T
free time
RECREATION
W W W
work water weather C
S Sp

10. BATHING & SWIMMING IN PRE-INDUSTRIAL BRITAIN
R Sp is for Sport
C R S T
more time S
higher standards P
competitions O
strokes R
diving T
polo
Swimming rather than Bathing

11. BATHING & SWIMMING IN PRE-INDUSTRIAL BRITAIN
C R
S is for Survival Sp
Risk of drowning
in a river town.
as a sportsperson…individual issue;
as a child at play…family problem;
working on the river…employer issue;
danger during floods and thin ice… a
community problem.

12. Summary. Name 4 characteristics of popular recreation.
What social reasons were there for the following characteristics:
simple/unwritten rules.
Natural/simple.
Occasional.
What were reasons behind the importance of bathing?
Produce a summary (approx 1 side of A4, word processed on Doggett Coat & Badge Race)