Alfred Cross's design for a Russian bath
suitable for a local authority Turkish baths suite
Cross makes the point that Russian baths are rarely found alone and are more often appreciated when there is an accompanying Turkish bath. This preference seems to have continued to the present day, though the sauna is now substituted for the Turkish bath.
Cross, surprisingly does not follow Allsop's advice, since the door into the Russian bath directly faces that into the shampooing room, which most users would find unsatisfactory. While Cross's expertise was originally related to swimming pools, Allsop would have had far more experience in the design of hot air baths.
The plan clearly shows the stepped seats in the Russian bath, allowing bathers to move up to higher temperatures as required.
This page first published 01 January 2023
This page enlarges an image or adds to the information found below:
Sexual activities in the Jermyn Street Hammam. 3: A case study in queer history
Victorian Turkish Baths: their origin, development, and gradual decline
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