{"id":2350,"date":"2023-04-23T10:16:03","date_gmt":"2023-04-23T10:16:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/crimesofthecenturies.com\/?p=2350"},"modified":"2025-07-15T15:22:36","modified_gmt":"2025-07-15T14:22:36","slug":"port-carlisle-baths","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/crimesofthecenturies.com\/index.php\/2023\/04\/23\/port-carlisle-baths\/","title":{"rendered":"Port Carlisle baths"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Port Carlisle baths \u2013 a puzzle solved<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Port Carlisle baths \u2013 or Victoria baths, to give their full name \u2013 opened in 1844, as an attempt to make the village \u2018the most-popular of all the bathing resorts on the coast\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I \u2018had\u2019 to correct someone on an online genealogy site a while back, who understood that one of his ancestors had owned the baths (they hadn\u2019t, but may have been tenants), and that the baths\u2019 purpose was to \u2018de-louse\u2019 sailors. No doubt a well-intentioned story, handed down the generations and mangled in the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, the baths were meant to be a tourist attraction, and in that (initially, at least) they succeeded. In the summer of 1845, local newspapers were describing Port Carlisle as a \u2018thriving watering place, crowded with visitors\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rewind<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Port Carlisle baths were built by public subscription. This opened in 1843, when \u00a35 shares were sold, in order to raise \u00a3500 to build the baths and get them up and running.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Port
Peter Irving the ship owner bought at least two shares in Port Carlisle baths<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The first manager was William Wood, the next a \u2018Mrs Murray\u2019 \u2013 with the premises being advertised \u2018to let\u2019 at various times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The (surviving) Port Carlisle minutes book of the 1840s says it was agreed (in 1843):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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that the baths be let for 12 months to William Wood of the Old Binnacle, at his offer of \u00a322. 1\/4 rent to be paid in advance. <\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In November 1845, the committee recorded:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ordered that Mrs Murray\u2019s offer of \u00a326 be accepted and she to be informed.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1850 February, shareholders got the good news that they were to receive a dividend of four per cent. But with the canal closing in 1853, to be converted into a railway that didn\u2019t open for ten months, the village surely saw a huge drop in visitor numbers. And while the baths were still going in the summer of 1867, Port Carlisle as a seaside resort had been overtaken by Silloth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Port Carlisle baths \u2013 the puzzle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In my book, Port Carlisle, a history built on hope<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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