Bénch

Tuesday, April 09, 2019

oné hundréd stokérs

Early on Sunday Me ,Cath & Chris drove to Rawden .

Cath was attending a Retreat Day at The White Eagle Lodge.

After dropping Cath off, me & Chris drove to the Russian Baths in Bramley.

I went there about 5 years ago. Since then, it was closed by Leeds Council .However it has recently reopened as a "Community Pool",run by volunteers & goodwill.

It has a really good vibe. and the locals are breathing the life back into this 1904 Edwardian Bath House.

"Russian Baths" is a rather grand title for what is ,essentially, a tiled steam room.

But maybe ,as beer tastes better out of glass rather than plastic, so steam feels better in tiles rather than the plastic shells modern steam rooms have?

Returning,we parked in Rawden crematorium (next to the White Eagle Lodge) And ,while waiting for Cath & her friends to finish , I wandered around the beautiful grounds & took some photos......

On Monday we all went to Harrogate Turkish Baths. Ive been going there for 30+ years , usually once or twice a year.

They monitized it too much these days, but I still find it sweet.

The attendant today told a story I had never heard before. I dont know how true it is, but it conjures up an interesting image ,for me, that illustrates "Victorian Values" .

The Top Hot Room ( temperature 70C/160F + plus) is heated through its marble floor. In the 19th century this heat came from a coal furnace in the basement below.

While the Toffs sat sweating & having their brows wiped by Attendants dressed in servant costumns ,below ,in the cellars, it took 100 men to be constantly stoking the furnace boilers.

Some things dont change!

By the way , Newcastle Turkish Baths reopens this summer (details the link below)

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/newcastle-city-pool-turkish-baths-15699537

https://www.whiteagle.org/north-of-england

https://bramleybaths.com/

https://www.turkishbathsharrogate.co.uk/
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http://www.victorianturkishbath.org/_000HOME/HOMEPAGE.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulfur