BATHS & WASHING

See Also: GROOMING; LAVATORIES; WATER SUPPLY; MENU

In his novel Pendennis (1850), William Makepeace Thackeray coined the term the great unwashed .

King George VI

During the Second World War whenever King George VI took a bath, he was careful to ensure that his bath water at Buckingham Palace was never more than five inches deep. This was a measure to save the energy that otherwise would have been used to heat more water.

Location: Carlton Gardens, SW1Y 5AH. A (clothed) statue. (red, yellow)

See Also: BEER Porter; THE SECOND WORLD WAR

Livia Gollancz

There was an occasion when a dinner was held at the Swedish ambassador's residence near to Kensington to honour a Norwegian publisher. After the meal one of the guests went to use a first-floor bathroom that had been designated the ladies that night. She found herself having to queue behind a couple of other women. The door did not open. The queue grew longer. The door still was not open. The queue grew longer still. Eventually, the door opened and outstepped the publisher Livia Gollancz (1920-2018), declaring That was a lovely bath.

Hot and Cold

King Edward III (d.1377) had hot and cold running water in his baths in Westminster and King's Langley.

Turkish Baths

The Victorian Bath House

Turkish Bath near St Botolph near to Liverpool Street Station.

Location: Bishopsgate Churchyard, EC2M 3TJ (blue, brown)

Website: https://victorianbathhouse.co.uk

David Backhouse 2024