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The suite of rooms includes a steam bath, a cold plunge, a hot bath and a shower, as well as water closets and a changing room. They are the lowest and the first completed part of Norman Shaw’s first addition to the original house. His plan, which shows that modifications were still being made, is dated 5 May 1870, and Armstrong’s friend, Thomas Sopwith, recorded in his diary that ‘the Turkish Bath at Cragside was used for the first time on November 4th 1870′.

The baths were part of Lord Armstrong’s innovative provision of central heating for the whole house. The space occupied by the baths is cleverly situated between chambers with huge water-pipe coils, which, heated from the boiler to the north, were the source of hot air that was ducted up into the main house.*

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*From the National Trust guidebook to Cragside.

8 Comments CherryPie on Feb 21st 2014

8 Responses to “Cragside – The Turkish Baths”

  1. Claude says:

    Very luxurious. It looks more like a swimming pool.

  2. Natalie says:

    Oooo! Very nice. I’d quite like one of those myself!

  3. I like the tiles!
    So exotic.

  4. J_on_tour says:

    The tiles remind me of a section of Cardiff Castle. A really good job on the photos as that light looks as if it could have been difficult.

    • CherryPie says:

      I have never been to Cardiff Castle. Would you recommend a visit there?

      The lighting inside such houses is always a challenge. I always take the photos hand held without a flash. If the lighting is not quite right, I consider it an excuse to revisit the property.

      The experience is a journey…