Regency Destinations: Margate Bathing Rooms

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THE Bathing Rooms are seven in number and situated near the harbour on the western side of High Street they are contrived on a plan so com modious and convenient as to form an agreeable lounge to those who do not bathe some of them being well supplied with the daily papers and have grand piano fortes kept for the use of the subscri bers These rooms are mostly resorted to in a morning by the company who mean to bathe a slate is affixed in the lobby for the insertion of names and every one in his regular turn is driven in the machines any depth into the sea under the conduct of careful guides at the back of the ma chine is a door through which the bathers descend a few steps into the water and an umbrella of canvas falling over conceals them from public view Upwards of forty of these machines are frequently employed in a morning their structure
is at once both simple and convenient and the pleasure and advantage of bathing may be enjoyed in so private a manner as to be consistent with the strictest delicacy No sight can be more de sirable than to behold these vehicles gliding as it were on the surface of the water passing and re passing with a freight of happy mortals who having left their winter retreats are now emerging from those unpleasing though profitable scenes to share the joys of the less confined but not more useful part of the community Benjamin Beale a Quaker and an inhabitant of this place in the earliest time of its improvement was the inventor of these machines but like other ingenious per sons his invention proved his own ruin though many have since acquired affluent support from the use of them Exclusive of these conveniences for cold sea bathing here are also four marble warm salt water baths upon a good construction which being filled from the sea are heated to any degree of temperature required at a few minutes notice Ir any thing were wanting to prove the efficacy of sea bathing which seems now to be fully esta blished our numerous visitors would be sufficient testimony few of whom leave Margate without having realized their most sanguine expectations Those who wish to make themselves acquainted
with the good and bad effects of salt water pre vious to a course of bathing we beg them to consult the ingenious authors who have written professedly on the subject or the highly respectable medical gentlemen resident in the town Suffice it to say that in all cases where bathing is serviceable the sea is at least equal to any other bath and in many disorders greatly superior and the benefit of the warm salt water bath has been experienced in the removal of many obstinate complaints which had baffled the power of medicine and in most cases where the cold bath disagrees or fails the tepid has the desired effect It is frequently recommended preparatory to a course of the former as it tends to relax the fibres open the pores and give greater energy to the powers of the natural bath To afford to the indigent an opportunity of parti cipating in the advantages of this powerful remedy a large subscription had been raised for building the General Sea bathing Infirmary at Westbrook the first stone of which was laid on the 21st of June 1792 by John Coakley Lettsom MD at tended by many distinguished friends of the insti tution from London and in the presence of a numerous company of rejoicing spectators when the Rev Weeden Butler of Chelsea offered up a solemn supplication to the Disposer of Events that
he might crown this institution with the most abundant success The New Margate, Ramsgate and Broadstairs Guide; Containing an Historical Epitome of the Ancient and Present State of the Isle of Thanet, Etc (1801)

To access the healing properties of the sea, bathing machines, which in Margate’s case were essentially carriages with ladders to dip into the ocean, were popular items.  This would maintain propriety but also help those who needed assistance.

TERMS OF BATHING Alady bathing in a machine guide included s d 13
Two or more ladies together guide in cluded Child in a machine with a guide Two or more children together with a guide Gentlemen in a machine guide included Ditto without a guide Two or more gentlemen with a guide Ditto without a guide 14 s d IO each 1 3 0.9 each I 6 ΙΟ I 3 each o 9 each Warm bath 3s 6d each or seven times for a guinea A Guide to All the Watering and Sea Bathing Places in England and Wales , with a Description of the Lakes; a Sketch of a Tour in Wales, and Itineraries (1803)

These were not a Regency invention, but were nonetheless popular throughout the Regency era. Margate’s Royal Sea Bathing Infirmary would open up in 1792, helping to establish Margate as a destination for wellness seekers.

Margate, overall, saw a lot of development in the Regency era including the construction of its pier from 1810-1816.

You can find a carousel of images of the Margate bathing rooms here: Bathing Rooms Margate 1821 | Margate History (margatelocalhistory.co.uk)

Some other posts about baths and sea bathing: Regency Reader Questions: Spas and Bathing 

Regency Reader Questions: Spas and Bathing Part II 

Regency Hot Spots: Cheltenham 

Regency Hot Spots: Royal Pump Rooms 

Regency Health and Medicine: The Vapour Bath 

Regency Destinations: Freiston Shore 

Regency Hot Spots: Cheltenham

Regency Hot Spots: Brighton 

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