Ironmonger Row Baths were built as a public wash house and later upgraded to a

Turkish Bath A hammam ( ar, حمّام, translit=ḥammām, tr, hamam) or Turkish bath is a type of steam bath or a place of public bathing associated with the Islamic world. It is a prominent feature in the culture of the Muslim world and was inherited ...

. They are located at Ironmonger Row, in the St Luke's district, near

Old Street Old Street is a street in inner north-east Central London that runs west to east from Goswell Road in Clerkenwell, in the London Borough of Islington, via St Luke's and Old Street Roundabout, to the crossroads where it meets Shoreditch High ...

Islington Islington () is a district in the north of Greater London, England, and part of the London Borough of Islington. It is a mainly residential district of Inner London, extending from Islington's High Street to Highbury Fields, encompassing the ar ...

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

Description

The baths include a steam room, a Victorian-style Turkish bath comprising a series of three hot rooms of varying temperature, marble slabs for

massage Massage is the manipulation of the body's soft tissues. Massage techniques are commonly applied with hands, fingers, elbows, knees, forearms, feet or a device. The purpose of massage is generally for the treatment of body stress or pain. In Eu ...

and body scrubbing and an icy plunge pool. In addition there are two relaxation areas. The swimming pool is 100 feet (slightly over 30 metres) long. There is a small sauna next to the pool, as well as a well equipped modern gym located within the building. There is also a communal laundry facility (launderette) in the building. Extensive renovations to the entire building were carried out between May 2010 and December 2012. A fire in December 2021 destroyed one of the restored saunas and caused damage to the basement of the building. The facility operates numerous programs, including a branch of the Tom Daley Diving Academy.

History

The baths were designed by architects AWS & KMB Cross, and built in 1931. They have been managed by

Greenwich Leisure Limited Greenwich Leisure Ltd (GLL), operating under the brand "Better", is a non-profit charitable Social Enterprise organisation which runs over 250 sport and leisure facilities and libraries on behalf of local authorities in London and across the UK, ...

(GLL) since the 2012 refurbishment. From just after the Second World War until the new complex at Crystal Palace was built in the late 60s, the baths were the home of the world-famous Highgate Diving Club, who held their club night there every Friday and also met during the public sessions on Saturday mornings. The Olympic diver, Brian Phelps (Bronze medal – Highboard diving in 1960 Olympics) trained there regularly with his coach, Wally Orner, as did many of the club's international and Olympic divers, such as John Chandler, John Cooze, John Miles, Billy Wood, and Alun Roberts. It was listed grade II in November 2006 and is located within St. Luke's Conservation Area.

Timeline

Archival records

Islington Local History Centre Islington Local History Centre is a local studies centre and archive which holds material documenting the history of the London Borough of Islington. History Islington Local History Centre, which is located in Finsbury Library, was opened in 2003 ...

holds plans, photographs and commemorative material related to Ironmonger Row Baths.

References

External links

*{{official website, http://www.better.org.uk/areas/islington/centres/ironmonger-row-baths
Entry in Victorian Turkish Baths
Grade II listed buildings in the London Borough of Islington Swimming venues in London Public baths in the United Kingdom Tourist attractions in the London Borough of Islington