SLIPPER BATHS

A variation of the classic roll-top tub, the slipper bath came to prominence in the Victorian era in tandem with the increased recognition of bathing to reduce the spread of disease. While this wasn’t an issue for wealthier households, in more modest homes only children were bathed when essential, with adults usually sticking to a jug of water and sponge. This led to the introduction of public bathhouses and with these the slipper bath. The tub’s high-sided design offered privacy, helping bathers to retain their modesty while washing communally. A towel would have also been draped over the flat edges to cover the body, giving the bath its eponymous slipper-like appearance. Made from cast iron, the bath was designed to retain heat, as the water would have been filled and heated manually.