Wash House Collection

View of the wash-house constructed around the Fosse Dionne (photo)
XIR245180 View of the wash-house constructed around the Fosse Dionne (photo) by French School, (18th century); Tonnerre, France; (add.info)

Public Baths and Washhouse, Newcastle-on-Tyne, 1859
Engraving showing the exterior of the then newly opened public baths and washhouse, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, 1859

The Wash-House, 1905, (1906). Artist: William Newenham Montague Orpen
The Wash-House, 1905. After an original work by William Orpen (1878-1931). From The Studio Volume 37 [London Offices of the Studio, London, 1906]

The Rear Courtyard of Charlottenborg Palace, 1828 (oil on canvas)
8724031 The Rear Courtyard of Charlottenborg Palace, 1828 (oil on canvas) by Sodring, Frederik Hansen (1809-62); Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen, Denmark; (add.info.: By F. Sodring).

Girl washing clothes in a courtyard in Zwolle, after 1653 (oil on canvas)
8712000 Girl washing clothes in a courtyard in Zwolle, after 1653 (oil on canvas) by Hooch, Pieter de (1629-84); Nivaagaards Malerisamling, Niva, Denmark; (add.info.: By Pieter de Hooch)

Cyprus': women in the lavatories of Levka
3570779 Cyprus': women in the lavatories of Levka; (add.info.: Levka, Cyprus 1878-1879 ca. Photographer: Thomson, John); Alinari Archives, Florence.

The St. Marylebone Baths and Washhouses, 1850. Creator: Unknown
The St. Marylebone Baths and Washhouses, [London], 1850. New building with...separate entrances for the different classes

The last remaining corporation wash house on Shipley Street, Byker, Newcastle - local residents use the facilities for the last time 30 September 1971

Woolwich Public Baths PLA01_03_0237
The Old Baths, Bathway, Woolwich, Greenwich, Greater London. The entrance of The Old Baths performing arts centre of the University of Greenwich, originally the Woolwich Public Baths

A wash-house; on the left the twisted laundry. The indirect lighting and the reflection of the water give a highly pictorial effect. Date of Photograph:1926-1927

The Truogoli di Santa Brigida in Genoa Genoa. Date of Photograph:1890-1910

Washerwomen on a street in Capri Capri. Date of Photograph:1890 ca

Mexican washerwomen at work around a tank of water; with them a few men and some little girls. In the background some clothes drying Mexico. Date of Photograph:1880-1910 ca

"Genoa. Truogoli di S.Brigida". View of the small Piazza dei Truogoli di Santa Brigida Genoa Rione Santa Brigida. Date of Photograph:1895 ca

Publish wash basins, Bombay, Mumbai, state of Maharashtra India State of Maharashtra, streets of Bombay (Mumbai). Date of Photograph:1965

Woman washing clothes Italy. Date of Photograph:1960 ca

"Washerwoman" Italy. Date of Photograph:1960 ca

Washer in the Tuscan countryside Tuscany. Date of Photograph:31/08/1932

Women at the fountain, Siena Siena. Date of Photograph:28/08/1932

Women at the washhouse Arezzo. Date of Photograph:28/09-04/10/1931

Women at the wash Arezzo. Date of Photograph:28/09-04/10/1931

Women at the wash; photo studio Arezzo. Date of Photograph:28/09-04/10/1931

Women at the wash, Arezzo Arezzo. Date of Photograph:1930

Women washing their clothes at the medieval fountain, San Gimignano San Gimignano. Date of Photograph:07/1926

Hill and medieval source, San Gimignano San Gimignano. Date of Photograph:07/1926

Lower-class women at the public washhouse in old Sanremo Imperia Sanremo. Date of Photograph:1900 ca

Sorrento: women and men at a public wash-house. Sorrento. Date of Photograph:1879-1910 ca

Inside of the laundry of the Hospital of Montecatini Terme.. Date of Photograph:1900 ca

View of a farmhouse with hayloft and washbasin in Assisi, a cart with oxen is visible in the background Assisi. Date of Photograph:1930 ca

Wash-house in the cloister of the Basilica of San Zeno Maggiore, Verona Verona San Zeno cloister Cloister Romanesque, Middle Ages, Europe, First and Second Millennium A.D.. Date of Photograph:1936

Laundresses washing clothes in the area of Via Tuscolana in Rome Rome. Date of Photograph:1890 ca

Wash House, detail from the Porta delle Fonti in San Giminiano San Gimignano Porta delle Fonti City Gate Gothic, Middle Ages, Europe, First and Second Millennium A.D.. Date of Photograph:1934 ca

Nuova Springs, Siena Siena Font Gothic, Middle Ages, Europe, First and Second Millennium A.D.. Date of Photograph:1890 ca.. Date of Artwork:XIV sec.. Artist:Sozzo di Rustichino, Camaino di Crescentino

The springs of Pescaia Siena Pescaia. Date of Photograph:1890 ca

Women at work in the St George Street Wash house, Birmingham, Midlands, England. Picture taken 29th January 1932

St Pancras Public Baths PLA01_03_0139
Kentish Town Sports Centre, Prince of Wales Road, Kentish Town, Camden, Greater London. The heavily decorated Mens Second Class entrance of the former St Pancras Public Baths

Public washhouse in Northern Italy, 19th century
7278768 Public washhouse in Northern Italy, 19th century by Unknown Artist, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Public washhouse in Northern Italy, 19th century, Historic)

Floating Capital (engraving)
7177873 Floating Capital (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Floating Capital. Illustration for The Comic Annual by Thomas Hood)

The Light Horse (engraving)
7177679 The Light Horse (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Light Horse. Illustration for The Comic Annual by Thomas Hood)

The wash. 18th century (oil on canvas)
6437635 The wash. 18th century (oil on canvas) by Robert, Hubert (1733-1808); Musee des Beaux-Arts, Orleans, France; (add.info.: Art of living. Fashion)

The Yard and Wash-House, from A Home series, c. 1895 (w / c on paper)
3086676 The Yard and Wash-House, from A Home series, c.1895 (w/c on paper) by Larsson, Carl (1853-1919); 32x43 cm; National Museum, Stockholm, Sweden; Swedish, out of copyright

Wash-house Boat at Bas-Meudon, c. 1874 (oil on canvas)
621483 Wash-house Boat at Bas-Meudon, c.1874 (oil on canvas) by Renoir, Pierre Auguste (1841-1919); 50x61 cm; Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, Williamstown, Massachusetts, USA; French

View of the small Piazza dei Truogoli di Santa Brigida, c. 1895 (b / w photo)
ALI443758 View of the small Piazza dei Truogoli di Santa Brigida, c.1895 (b/w photo) by Noack, Alfredo (1833-96); Genoa, Italy; (add.info.: Piazza dei Truogoli di Santa Brigida; ); Alinari

Postcard depicting the washing-place of the factory Epitalon Freres in Lapte, Haute-Loire
REV382792 Postcard depicting the washing-place of the factory Epitalon Freres in Lapte, Haute-Loire, c.1900 (b/w photo) by French Photographer

The Washerwomen, late 18th-early 19th century (drawing)
AIS5379516 The Washerwomen, late 18th-early 19th century (drawing) by Goya y Lucientes, Francisco Jose de (1746-1828); Biblioteca Nacional, Madrid

View of the old fortifications and a washing house (photo)
XIR192176 View of the old fortifications and a washing house (photo) by French School; Vannes, France; (add.info.: the old ramparts and an old wash room; ); French, out of copyright

Interior designs for the Napoleon housing development, 58 rue Rochechouart
CHT208483 Interior designs for the Napoleon housing development, 58 rue Rochechouart, Paris, 1849 (colour litho) by French School, (19th century); Bibliotheque des Arts Decoratifs, Paris

The Washerwoman, from 34 Lessons of Images without Words
CHT173531 The Washerwoman, from 34 Lessons of Images without Words, early 20th century (colour litho) by Fau, Fernand (fl.1910) and Perrot

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"Exploring the Historical Significance of Wash Houses: A Glimpse into Public Hygiene" From Newcastle-on-Tyne to Northern Italy, wash houses have played a vital role in promoting cleanliness and public health throughout history. Dating back to 1859 with the establishment of the Public Baths and Washhouse in Newcastle-on-Tyne, these communal spaces provided an essential service for communities. One notable depiction is "The Wash-House" by William Newenham Montague Orpen in 1905. This artwork captures the bustling atmosphere within a wash house, showcasing people diligently scrubbing their laundry clean. Similarly, Woolwich Public Baths and St Pancras Public Baths stand as testaments to the importance placed on hygiene during this era. In Byker's Shipley Street, we find the last remaining corporation wash house, serving as a reminder of how such facilities were once commonplace. Meanwhile, a glimpse into Northern Italy reveals another example of a public washhouse from the 19th century – highlighting its international significance. Not limited to land-based structures alone, wash-house boats like Bas-Meudon's floating capital also existed. These mobile units brought convenience directly to riverside communities who relied on them for their daily washing needs. Artistic representations further shed light on historical practices surrounding washing clothes. From "The Yard and Wash-House" watercolor painting from A Home series in c. 1895 to "The Wash, " an oil canvas piece depicting an 18th-century scene – both capture domestic scenes where families gathered around washtubs engaging in this laborious task. Lastly, we catch sight of Piazza dei Truogoli di Santa Brigida through a black-and-white photograph taken around 1895. In this small Italian square lies yet another public wash area that served as a hub for locals seeking cleanliness amidst their busy lives. These various depictions provide us with valuable insights into our ancestors' dedication to maintaining personal hygiene and the communal efforts made towards public health.