London: Jermyn Street (76): The Hammam:
view of
the hararah (first hot room)
looking through the arch to the meshlak,
and north towards Jermyn Street
The reality—this is the only known photograph of the hararah (first hot room) which, though foreshortened, does give a better idea of the scale of the room than the images published when The Hammam was opened.
In the foreground, the bather on the right is looking down the steps leading to the douches which are below the raised platform just behind. Behind this on either side can be seen the entrances to two of the four rooms in the corners of the Maltese cross and, centrally behind the standing bather, towels are draped over the rails surrounding the entrance to the plunge pool.
Through the glass-covered arch, above which is a large hanging two-sided clock, can be seen the meshlak (cooling-room).
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
Comments and queries are most welcome and can be sent to:
malcolm@victorianturkishbath.org
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has been asserted by him
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© Malcolm Shifrin, 1991-2023