Martha Gunn (1726–1815) was possibly the most famous of the "dippers", certainly the most famous in
Brighton. She lived at 36 East Street, Brighton, in a house that still stands. Her grave stone stands in
St Nicholas' churchyard in Brighton.
The
Morning Herald
The ''Morning Herald'' was an early daily newspaper in the United Kingdom.
The newspaper was founded in 1780 by the Reverend Sir Henry Bate Dudley, former editor of ''The Morning Post''. It was initially a liberal paper aligned with the Prince ...
described Martha Gunn as "The Venerable Priestess of the Bath"
Profession
A dipper was the operator of a
bathing machine
The bathing machine was a device, popular from the 18th century until the early 20th century, to allow people to change out of their usual clothes, change into swimwear, and wade in the ocean at beaches. Bathing machines were roofed and walled woo ...
used by women bathers. The dipper pushed the machine into and out of the water and helped the bather into and out of the water. A dipper had to be large and strong to carry out this work and Martha Gunn fulfilled both requirements.
Fame and notoriety
Martha Gunn was well known in the town and also known across the country. Her image appeared in many popular engravings including one in which she appeared repelling the invading French with a mop. In another she is seen standing behind
Mrs Fitzherbert and
The Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales ( cy, Tywysog Cymru, ; la, Princeps Cambriae/Walliae) is a title traditionally given to the heir apparent to the English and later British throne. Prior to the conquest by Edward I in the 13th century, it was used by the rulers o ...
(the future George IV).
Martha Gunn was said to be a favourite of the Prince of Wales and had free access to the royal kitchens.
Legacy
Several works of art show the image of Martha Gunn. The image on this page is titled "Martha Gunn and the Prince Of Wales". Whilst the exact date of the painting is unknown it is unlikely to actually show the Prince of Wales as he didn't visit Brighton until he was twenty one and Martha Gunn herself is not thought to have ever left Brighton. The original of this painting now hangs in the tea-room of the
Royal Pavilion
The Royal Pavilion, and surrounding gardens, also known as the Brighton Pavilion, is a Grade I listed former royal residence located in Brighton, England. Beginning in 1787, it was built in three stages as a seaside retreat for George, Princ ...
.
Her image is on several contemporary engravings and cartoons and a
toby jug was made of her in 1840.
There is a pub in
Upper Lewes Road, Brighton called the Martha Gunn and she has a
bus named after her. The Brighton-based pop group
Martha Gunn also take their name from her.
Rhyme
''To Brighton came he,
Came
George III
George III (George William Frederick; 4 June 173829 January 1820) was King of Great Britain and of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of the two kingdoms on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Br ...
's son.
To be bathed in the sea,
By famed Martha Gunn.''
(Old English rhyme, author unknown)
References
*Carder, Timothy. ''The Encyclopaedia of Brighton''. East Sussex County Libraries. 1990.
*Displays at the Brighton Fishing Museum, Kings Road Arches, Brighton
External links
Brief Biog.
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gunn, Martha
1726 births
1815 deaths
People from Brighton