In 1832, during a cholera epidemic, Mrs Catherine (Kitty) Wilkinson had the only heating boiler in her neighbourhood of Liverpool. She helped her neighbours to wash infected clothes and bedding - so this was effectively the first public washhouse. Ten years later, with public funds, her efforts resulted in the opening of a combined washhouse and public baths in Upper Frederick Street, the first in the U.K.

We are pleased to welcome back Pauline Hurst, who has spoken to us twice before. This well-illustrated talk also looks at the development and use of public bathing and swimming facilities, by reference to the extensive local Health Reports in the Liverpool archives.