Carlisle Turkish baths

Carlisle Turkish Baths is a red-brick bathhouse featuring Moorish-style arches and original green and yellow tilework in its changing areas. The building contained saunas, plunge pools, and showers, with a cooling room showcasing a decorative concrete pool surrounded by pale glazed tiles in oriental patterns.

The bathhouse opened in 1909 as an extension to an existing swimming pool from 1884, built by local constructor William Johnstone. It was part of the wave of public bathing facilities that spread across British towns during that period.

The baths served locals seeking traditional bathing experiences and wellness treatments until their closure in 2022. They were part of a rare network of functioning Turkish baths across Britain, preserving a specialized bathing culture.

The building is located on James Street in Carlisle and can be viewed from outside. The architecture and tilework are visible from the street, though the interior has been closed to the public since 2022.

The cooling room features tiles in pale green, pale blue, and buff tones displaying oriental designs that stand out from the bolder decoration elsewhere. These softer hues created a distinct visual identity within the bathhouse.

Location: Carlisle

GPS coordinates: 54.88994,-2.93486

Latest update: December 12, 2025 17:45