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21
Jul 2022
Harrogate's Turkish Baths celebrates 125th birthday
Harrogate's Turkish Baths will celebrate its 125th birthday this weekend.
The Harrogate Borough Council-run leisure facility was opened on July 23, 1897 by Duke of Cambridge Prince George and cost £120,000 to build.
In its early days, water was pumped to the baths from several different springs, with treatments for conditions such as rheumatism, arthritis and sciatica being offered.
Facilities available during the baths' Victorian heyday included dispensing of medicinal waters, hydrotherapy departments, mud baths and steam rooms as well as consulting doctors.
The baths were popular with members of royal families from around the world and a particular favourite of Queen Victoria's granddaughters – Princess Alix and Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine.
Although Turkish baths were common in Victorian times, only seven remain that date back to the 19th century.
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To help celebrate the baths' 125th birthday, heritage experts will be at Victoria Shopping Centre all this week from 10am until 3pm.
They will be sharing archive images and fascinating details about the original Victorian relaxation and health treatments, as well as information about the baths experience and treatments available today.
Conservative councillor Stanley Lumley, Harrogate Borough Council's cabinet member for culture, tourism and sport, and chair of the board of directors at council-owned leisure company Brimhams Active, said:
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