Coming Out in the Wash: Investigating Manchester’s Public Baths and Wash-houses

ABSTRACT Manchester experienced an astonishing rate of growth from the late 18th century to become the first industrial town in the world by the 1830s. Its industrial prowess was fuelled by remarkable engineering talent that was drawn from across the country, coupled with the migration of workers on a scale that was unprecedented and unforeseen. The living conditions, sanitation and health of the burgeoning ranks of urban poor had become a pressing issue for social concern in many towns by the mid-19th century, and the introduction of public baths and wash-houses was an early attempt at redress. These important facilities represented the first civil-engineering projects that were implemented explicitly for the poor, and some of the earliest in the country were established in Manchester and Salford by private enterprise and combined innovative technology with impressive architectural detailing that exuded civic pride, setting a high standard for later swimming baths. Several of these pioneering public baths have been subject to archaeological excavation since 2014, making an important contribution to understanding this significant but dwindling monument type.