Victorian Turkish Baths Picture of the Month for August 2011

In our Picture of the Month for May 2009 we asked,
'Do you know where this shampooing room is—or was?'
We now know that it was the shampooing room
at the Stanley Turkish baths which closed in 1997

Definitely NOT Eston
< Photo: Shifrin

This photograph was taken some time in the 1990s when I was researching Victorian-style Turkish baths somewhere north of Watford. Unfortunately I forgot to label it and my aged memory had completely forgotten where I took it.

I thought for many years that it was Eston (now sadly closed) but I was assured by several people (including some who worked there) that it definitely was not.

Now a visitor to the site, Howard Phillips, has written to say that he,

recognised the room instantly. It is the main room within the Turkish and Sauna Suite of The Leisure Centre in Stanley County Durham. The slabs are massage tables with shower heads for rinsing down.

Seeing the picture reminded me of my visits to the facilities there every Friday evening and of the many friends dispersed when the building was pre-emptorily demolished about ten years ago, apparently because of faults in the structure. It was one of the best of its kind…

Many thanks, Howard

Thank you icon

Howard Phillips for solving the mystery

Maurice for originally suggesting the idea of a mystery picture

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