The Lost Turkish Baths on Northumberland Avenue
Along Northumberland Avenue in Westminster you find the wonderfully picturesque Sherlock Holmes pub.
It’s delightful on the eyes and appears the quintessential Victorian London pub.
But out of sight there’s some hidden history of another Victorian gem. Or at least the remnants of it…
A Lost Turkish Bathhouse
Known as the Charing Cross Turkish Baths, the site was one of nine owned by Henry and James Forder Nevill.
The number is a bit disingenuous as four venues were really two; split between men and women. Today it’s the women’s entrance on Craven Passage (formerly Northumberland Passage) where you can find the only bit of surviving visual evidence.
You have to walk down the passage and look up to admire the details…
The scrap of decoration doesn’t at all do the former baths justice. But thankfully there is a surviving image of the interior, specifically the ground floor cooling room;
Image from Malcolm Shifrin’s Victorian Turkish Baths website
A Glorious Survivor
Happily, a more complete Nevill’s Turkish Bathhouse can be found on the other side of London by Liverpool Street.
This one was finished in the 1890s, also designed by Elphick, and today it’s an event space and bar.
The Sherlock Link
And just in case you thought including the pub was superfluous, there’s actually a fun link with the former bathhouse.
It gets a mention in the Sherlock Holmes novel ‘The Illustrious Client“, Dr Watson narrates;
“Both Holmes and I had a weakness for the Turkish bath … On the upper floor of the Northumberland Avenue establishment there is an isolated corner where two couches lie side by side, and it was on these that we lay upon September 3, 1902, the day when my narrative begins.”
The baths closed in 1948 and sadly, a peek through an open door while the site is being renovated reveal no saved interior decor. There’s a sign for a new business on the door but there’s not much information about it.
However do look up and admire what’s left on the outside, possibly while having a refreshment in the nearby drinking establishment!
Gareth Morrell
You outdo yourself every week – there is clearly no end of fascinating things to discover in London. When wandering around the Whitehall area you can be 100 yards away from Trafalgar Square and feel almost lonely! By the way, Google maps is telling me the pub is on Northumberland St, not Northumberland Ave. Did Conan Doyle get it wrong or did the street names change?
Katie Wignall
Thanks Gareth! It’s IS neverending! Yep you’re right, it’s on Northumberland street technically but I always walk down the Avenue as it’s wide and the streets kind of opens up so you see it from both streets.
Ed Singleton
It’s an awful pub, but does have (or at least did have) a section that was a sealed off replica of what Sherlock Holmes’ study might have looked like. It’s worth popping in for a pint just to see it. The food was some of the worst I’ve had in the area and is very obviously targeted at tourists.
If you stand outside the front entrance and look slightly to the left and up, that’s where the opening fight scene from Doctor Strange took place (where they are running sideways down the walls). Slightly further down is the “Ministry of Magic” from Harry Potter.
Katie Wignall
Haven’t seen Dr Strange but yes I occasionally do Harry Potter tours and always take people to the Ministry of Magic entrance! Agree on the food, would never eat there! Also as far as I know they do still have that quirky ‘museum’ space…
Sue Mayhew
This site is amazing, I love London and Reading about all these unknown things is fascinating.
Katie Wignall
Thanks Sue! Even though I live here it seems like there’s an endless supply of history and stories, makes my job a delight! 🙂
Tizzie Coleman
Some years ago I was doing a Katie-type wander around this area and came across this building being cleaned out. The workmen let me in to have a look around …fascinating! Until now, I had no idea what or where it was..thanks for the information.
Katie Wignall
What a treat! Always love when yous stumble upon an open door and feel like you’ve lucked out 🙂 Glad you liked the post!
Tony Buglione
As a retired couple, we find you information of thing to see in London so helpful and helps us get out and about in London looking for them.
Katie Wignall
Hi Tony, that’s so lovely to hear, I’m very glad you find it helpful 🙂