Plans for swimming bath and steam laundry unveiled in 1888
A GROUP of prominent Inverness businessmen met in October to discuss plans to build a swimming bath and steam laundry on a site in Montague Row behind the public bleaching green on Planefield Road.
The designs, by architects Messrs Ross & Macbeth, featured a "very handsome building" with a swimming pond measuring 75ft by 35ft, and ranging in depth from 7ft to 2ft 6ins.
"It will be fitted up in the most complete style, and will be well adapted for aquatic competitions and a light balcony will be run round the building for the accommodation of spectators during swimming contests," it was reported.
Arrangements would be made so women as well as men and people of all classes could use the pool.
The building would also include six private baths which would be constantly open at a moderate charge.
The laundry department would consist of two sections, one containing 18 washing stalls, each with a table, a boiler for boiling clothes and a washing tub with hot and cold water. A separate area was to be set aside for carpet beating.
The meeting heard that even in the town's best houses, there was a great lack of suitable laundry accommodation while the proposed washing conveniences would also be a great boon to the occupants of smaller houses and the poorer classes.
The need for a carpet beating department was also highlighted with the argument being made that beating carpets in the confined backyards attached to town houses was objectional for many reasons including the annoying noise for neighbours and the amount of dust generated.
