It was converted in 1912 into a public bath house containing four baths, for use by the people of Stevenage. History of Stevenage Bath House:
The building was originally constructed in 1835 to house the town’s fire engine. In 1911 a new steam-powered engine was ordered for the town. The new engine was, however, too tall to be housed in the 1835 fire engine house. In 1912 Stevenage Urban District
Council decided to convert the old fire engine house in Church Lane into a public bath house containing four baths, for use by the people of Stevenage. Stevenage Bath House opened in January 1913. In the early 1900s few Stevenage homes had bathrooms. People would have used instead a tin bath filled with hot water heated on a coal fire or in a copper (a large vessel) heated on the kitchen range. Keeping clean was difficult, yet vital for the good health of the town’s residents. Until they closed in about 1960, the baths were used by a wide variety of
people including some from as far away as Graveley, as well as ESA factory workers, soldiers billeted in the town during World War One and Two and builders working on Stevenage New Town. Although the Bath House has been closed for many years, the fixtures and fittings you can see today remain much as they were left in around 1960. There are four cubicles, each with the original bath and fittings. The coal heater and gas-powered water heater are still in situ as are the gas lamps and the hot water controls to each bath which were operated by the attendant. Group Visits can be organised by arrangement with Stevenage Museum. Telephone: 01438 218881
General enquiries email: [email protected]
Educational services email: [email protected]
