From Turkish baths to something different

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34130, 17 April 1976, Page 12

From Turkish baths to something different

After the recent news about Christchurch massage parlours it seemed a striking coincidence to discover in “The Press” of January 5, 1878. a description of the Turkish baths then established in High Street by an enterprising tobacconist and hairdresser named Aaron Ayers—or Professor Ayers as he liked to be known. (He was to become Mayor of Christchurch in 1886.)

The baths were in an apartment at the rear of his hair-dressing saloon. Next to them there was a disrobing room with furniture and hangings that gave it an oriental appearance.

A handsome stained glass door, heavily curt-

R. C. LAMB

ained, opened off this room on to the “tepidarium” where bathers could lounge in armchairs in a temperature of 120 deg. F. A fountain in the centre of this room was to be continually playing and to provide “the necessary moisture to perfect the temperature re-

quired.” After describing the wonderful feeling of contentment induced by this

“tepidarium” the report continues: “an attendant now divides a screen, and at his request the bather enters what is termed the ‘calidarium’ wherein the temperature ranges from 155 deg to 160 deg F.” The next step was to go into the shampooing room where the bather could recline on a marble table “with a soft pine piHow inder his head and be taken charge of by the operator.” In one corner of this room there was a “large cylindrical bath with open front,” the in-

side of which was lined with perforated tubing. The bather “having been sufficiently manipulated” was placed in this bath, and in a second was “covered from head to foot with water spray graduated from tepid to cold.”

This was “the needle portion of the bath” and a very pleasant portion at that. ' A hose and other jets were also applied here in completing the process of the Turkish bath.

Those who did not care for the perspiration treatment could have what was known as “the Sicilian bath”, which consisted of tepid and cold applications “given by the operator on one of the tables.”

Lastly one came to the “cooling saloon” —18 ft by 17ft and 13ft high — furnished with couches and easy chairs for those who preferred “a cigar, coffee and reflection while cooling”; while for the

others there were chess tables placed “at convenient intervals.” The Turkish bath treatment could occupy as long or as short a time as might suit the convenience of the bather. “The services of a clever operator who has gained by experience in this work on the continent and elsewhere have been secured”, stated the report. The rooms throughout Professor Ayers’s establishment were lit with gas, and in some of them — especially “the cooling saloon and ladies’ department” — the gaseliers were very handsome.

The baths were open daily for men from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. (and to 10 p.m. on Saturdays). The opening hours for ladies were advertised as: Tuesday 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Friday, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. In what simple and unsophisticated ways the citizens then found their fun.