These extracts\nare quite ancient for our use, but may help throw more light on the subject of\nmixed bathing, and especially with regard to the use of nosegays!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first from\nSamuel Gale A Tour Through\nSev\u2019ral Parts of England (1705)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The\nsituation of the baths is promiscuous, in several of the street of the city,\nand surrounded with high buildings, from whence spectators from the windows may\nview the company when bathing, the surface of the water being entirely open to\nthe heavens\u2026.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The manner\nof going in is for the gentlemen and ladies to dress themselves in their proper\nhabits in their own apartments: the first in fine canvas waistcoats of a sandy\ncolour edged and trimmed with black ribbands or ferreting, and tied down before\nwith strings of the same colour, having on canvas drawers and slippers and a\nlawn linen cap: the latter in canvas gown and petticoats with pieces of lead\naffixed at the bottom, to keep them down under the water. Being thus dressed\nthey are brought in chairs,sometimes close covered up in their morning gowns,\nand are set down in the passages which lead into the bath, shut at each end for\nmore privacy. The descent from the passage or entrance is by stone steps, at\nwhich one of the guides attending the bath meets you to conduct you in. The\nfirst we visited was the Cross Bath.\nTwo sides of the bath have galleries, one for spectators the other for the\nmusic. This bath is the most frequented by the quality of both sexes, where,\nwith the greatest order and decency,the gentlemen keep to one side of the bath\nand the ladies the other.No gentleman must whatever presume to bathe in the\nladies\u2019 district, under a pecuniary mulct, inflicted by the serjeants of the\nbath: the ladies are supposed to be so modest as not to come near the\ngentlemen\u2026The ladies bring with them jappanned bowls or basons tied to their\narms with ribbands, which swim upon the surface of the water ,and are to keep\ntheir handkerchiefs, nosegays, perfumes and spirits in case the exhalations of\nthe water should be too prevalent. The usual compliment when any one goes into\nthe bath, is too wish them a good bath: and the company while bathing,\ngenerally regale themselves with chocolate\u2026<\/em> And this order\nfrom the Bath Corporation to tighten up the Rule on Bating Dress worn at the\nBaths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is ordered..by\nthis Corporation that no Male Person above the age of Ten years shall at any\ntime hereafter go into any Bath or Baths within this City by day or by night\nwithout a pair of Drawers and a Waistcoast on their bodies. And that no Female\nperson shall…go into any Bath\u2026without\na decent Shift on their bodies. And that\u2026each guide shall wear a Cap with a\nTassel to it to distinguish them from other people.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Bath Council Minutes 26th September 1737.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It seems that\nthe makers of NA took into account all 18th century sources when re-creating\nthe bath scene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The only thing\nthey disregarded was the segregation of the sexes. But then I suppose John\nThorpe would be prepared to be fined in order to impress the ladies with his\nmerry banter.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" These extracts are quite ancient for our use, but may help throw more light on the subject of mixed bathing, and especially with regard to the use of nosegays! The first from Samuel Gale A Tour Through Sev\u2019ral Parts of England … Continue reading
\nPp.21-22.<\/p>\n\n\n\n