Re-reading one of my Heyer favorites, Friday’s Child, I noticed once again mention of the scandalous Peerless Pool. Sherry most certainly does not think it appropriate for Kitten to go there with friends, no matter how droll.
Here is a description from the 1896 “London’s Pleasure Gardens”:
In other words, Peerless Pool was a public bathing facility. Naturally, not a place for a young lady not wanting to be thought fast.
Peerless Pool was respectable, described by Cruchley (1834) as “the most commodious bathing establishment in the-
accessible to the lower classes as The Mirror (1844) tells us.
Propriety, would indeed, fall into question when young ladies are required to change in public stalls. Evidently, a man’s domain, the Peerless Pool also served for swimming lessons (The Guide to Knowledge, 1836).
For more info, check out these informative links!
http://www.plungingintohistory.com/ir-area-water
also mentioned in Frederica when Jessamy is going places with Felix when it is found to be no longer in use [which was 1819 dated nicely by Jessamy’s foray into the pedestrian curricle]