Roman Baths (Open House London)

I have something to confess.

I haven't taken a bath.

Ever.

Right. Now, if you're okay with my lack of elfish hygiene (in my defence, I take ages to dry), please join me in my tour of The 'Roman' Bath along Strand Lane.

It's open as part of the Open House event which takes place this very weekend, when loads of buildings in London let you look around them for free. I decide to take this opportunity to learn about Romans, and possibly take a bath too.

Now this looks promising. Having descended a treacherously steep flight of stairs down Surrey Street, I enter a very damp, small building (even the leaflets were damp - no bath sponges though) with the plaque reading 'Frigidarium' and 'Roman Bath'.

However, I have been deceived.

Firstly, there is absolutely no way I am bathing in this. I want a jacuzzi, with softly glowing candles and gentle music playing. Probably some bubbles too.

And instead, I find out that this is actually a feeder cistern for a grotto-fountain at the old Somerset House.

People did bathe in this though - it's mentioned in David Copperfield. 

Yuk!

Again, yuk.

I am never going to take a bath. Ever.

Anyway, another thing I found out was that this isn't actually a Roman relic at all. From the helpful guides pinned up along the wall, I find out that Stuarts and Georgians used to bathe in this (yes, the water was cold - hence 'frigidarium' or 'cold room' or 'yuk, I'm never going to bathe, ever' - I may have made the last translation up), and it allowed people to let their imaginations of the Roman past run riot.

Things I do really like are the bathroom tiles. Isn't this cute?

Oh, and I don't have jaundice, by the way. It's just the lighting. Promise.

There's a light source here too, which is kinda roman. Kinda. As in, Romans used to make great use of lighting in their baths, letting shadows and light play off against each other whilst they soaked.

Then again, they also used to make lions and gladiators play off against each other too, so I'm not sure if any of their ideas are worth copying.

And certainly don't copy the unfortunate William Wendell, MP for Malton, who died in the bath in May 1792.

That really would ruin bathtime.

If you want to find out more, have a look at these websites:

http://www.kcl.ac.uk/cultural/culturalinstitute/showcase/current/kei/artsdigital/virtualbathing/index.aspx

https://kcl.academia.edu/MichaelTrapp (bottom of page) - Professor Trapp has obsessively researched the 'Roman Bath' and is also the guy who wrote the information signs pinned on the walls. He's also there this Saturday to answer your questions.

http://www.londonmylondon.co.uk/?p=2954

 I'm off next to the Royal Courts of Justice - see you soon!

Elf Dryadalis