Marshall Street Baths
Public laundry room with women folding washing and using the mangles at Marshall Street Baths and Laundry, 1908
"The Marshall Street public baths and public laundry: official opening by his Worship the Mayor, Councillor Captain J F C Bennett, 17 April 1931" (front cover)
Plan showing section through 1st and 2nd class swimming baths at Marshall Street Baths by architects Alfred W S Cross and Kenneth M B Cross, 1931
Ground floor plan of the swimming bath at Marshall Street Baths by architects Alfred W S Cross and Kenneth M B Cross, 1931
"The Marshall Street public baths and public laundry : official opening by his Worship the Mayor, Councillor Captain J F C Bennett, 17 April 1931", exterior view of the baths
"The City of Westminster Official Guide", image of Marshall Street Baths, 1960
"The Marshall Street public baths and public laundry: official opening by his Worship the Mayor, Councillor Captain J F C Bennett, 17 April 1931", interior view of the baths
View of pool of the first Marshall Street Baths
History of Marshall Street Baths
By Tim Devitt
The first public baths in Marshall Street were opened by the Vestry of St James, Piccadilly in 1852. The site was redeveloped between 1928 and 1931 at a cost of £173,000, based on the designs of architects Alfred W S Cross and Kenneth M B Cross. The new public baths and wash-houses were opened by the Mayor of Westminster, Councillor Captain J F C Bennett, on 17 April 1931 . The main pool is lined with Sicilian marble, which is used along with Swedish green marble on the walls at either end. The bronze fountain in a niche at the shallow end of the main pool depicting a merchild is by Walter Gilbert. Behind the main pool was a smaller pool, the 'second class bath' with a barrel-vaulted roof. The baths were closed in 1997 in response to safety fears. A subsequent major refurbishment was carried out by Westminster City Council and its development partner Marshall Street Regeneration Ltd between 2008 and 2010.