Bathing Machines and a digression...
Posted by Caroline on October 02, 1997 at 10:24:52:
In response to Bathing machines.., written by Betsy on October 01, 1997 at 14:04:03
There is an exploration of the "bathing machine experience" in the completed version of Sanditon, by Jane Austen and "Another Lady", which has two young women, Charlotte and Clara, trying out the machines attended by a Mrs Gunn, who advises then to move around a little, but not to jiggle too much.
Bertha Gunn really existed. She was known as "Queen of the Dippers" and is buried in Brighton. She died in 1815, aged 92, and apparently carried on her trade right up until the day before her demise, if local tradition is to be believed.
(you know "Reader's Digest" comes up with some amazing stuff!)
Jane Austen tried out the seabathing in Charmouth with her maid, Molly,and Fanny Burney, a contemporary author and diarist, also tried it (but I havn't read her in ages, so I cannot be too specific about her.)
Most people accept that men "bathed" naked and women wore a "dark shift"...and they did it on different ends of the beach!
Digression.....only if you want to follow it up. Were you reading or watching "Woman in White?" I'd like to know what you thought of it, because it ties in with Lesley's ghost stories post, and because I have a very personal interest in that story.....
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