]The reason was of course that it was laborious and troubelsome
]without running and hot water.

You will think Parson Woodforde's Diary is the only book I've read (and you're not far off), but it looks to me like people didn't see hot water as a prerequisite for washing. The good parson (who usually employed 5 servants, for a household of 2 people) remarks occasionally about the coldness of his wash-water (on one occasion noting that it froze almost as soon as brought upstairs), but more as a meteorological phenomenon rather than as an impediment to washing. I think they were hardier people in general.