Ironmonger Row Baths

Ironmonger Row Baths were built as a public wash house and later upgraded to a Turkish Bath. They are located at 1-11 Ironmonger Row, in the district of St Luke's, near Old Street, Islington, London. The baths were designed by architects AWS & KMB Cross, and built in 1931. They are now managed by Aqua Terra Leisure

The baths include a steam room, a series of three hot rooms of varying temperature, marble slabs for massage and body scrubbing and an icy plunge pool. In addition there are two relaxation areas. As of February 2007, the sessions on Mondays are mixed-sex; other days are single-sex.

The swimming pool is slightly over 30 metres long. There is a small sauna next to the pool.

There is also a well equipped modern gym located within the building.

A notorious fight scene from director David Cronenberg's 2007 film, "Eastern Promises", was filmed at Ironmonger Row Baths, which involved Viggo Mortensen's character fighting Chechnyan gangsters to the death in the steam room.

History

* 1931 - Public Baths. Finsbury Metropolitan Borough Council (Proprs). Turkish Baths planned in the basement
* 1938 - Public Baths. Finsbury Metropolitan Borough Council (Proprs). Extension, including Turkish baths, opened 22 October
* 1966 - Ironmonger Row Baths. London Borough of Islington (Proprs). Including Turkish baths
* 1990 - Finsbury Leisure Complex. London Borough of Islington (Proprs). Including newly refurbished Ironmonger Row Turkish baths

External links

* [http://www.aquaterra.org/islington/irb/ Ironmonger Row Baths]
*http://www.victorianturkishbath.org/