Newspaper Articles Regarding Robertson's
Daily Gazette for Middlesbrough - Tuesday 25 August 1874
The MIDDLESBROUGH TURKISH BATHS
The new Turkish Baths, opposite the Grange, Grange Road, are nearly completed, and are advertised to be opened on Monday. Shortly after they were commenced, a short account of the arrangements was published in our columns, which however will bear repeating. The building bears a frontage of 28 feet to Grange road and extends backwards for 46 feet. It contains on the ground floor an office and divisions for 26 persons at a time; tepd room, 17ft by 12ft 6in. a hot room 14ft by 7ft ; lavatory and shampooing room 10ft by 7ft, plunge bath, 17 fett long, 6 feet wide, and 6 feet deep, and other offices.
The rooms on the second and third floors form the manager’s residence, which is of the most commodious kind, reflecting credit upon the architect for the skilful manner in which he has contrived to economise space. The tepid and hot rooms, and the lavatory and plunge baths are lined with fine white glazed bricks, by which the utmost cleanliness is secured. The hot room is heated by Field’s stove on the rotating principle by which a temperature of 180 to 190 degrees can be obtained. The lavatory and shampooing room is supplied with douche, rain and shower baths of the latest and most improved kind. The building is well lighted, and has evidently been erected with a view to the comfort of visitors. Mr Robertson, the proprietor, we are informed, intends residing on the premises, and a properly qualified manipulator will always be in attendance. The inhabitants of Middlesbrough will no doubt appreciate the laudable enterprise of Mr Robertson, and we trust that the undertaking may prove a financial success.
In September 1881, a local newspaper reported that,
A private meeting of the supporters of the scheme for converting the premises in Grange-road, at present occupied by Mr Robertson as Turkish baths, was held at the office of Mr J R Stubbs, on Monday afternoon. The scheme embraces the construction of a swimming bath 54ft x 22ft and is meant to supply the universally acknowledged want of such a convenience in the town. The meeting unanimously agreed to support the scheme, and a limited company, with a capital of £2,500, divided into 500 shares of £5 each, will at once be registered to carry the scheme into effect.
1893 Memorandum of Association: 2 March
Objects include: To purchase from the Trustees of the late Christopher Middleton the freehold hereditaments and premises in Grange Road East...
Capital: £2,500 divided into 2500 shares of £1
Subscribers:
Beece, William Joseph (1 share)
Hodgson, William (1 share) Merchant
Hornsey, T (1 share) Merchant
Malcolmson, J A, MD (1 share)
Philips, Theophilus (1 share) Resin distributor
Shaw, William (1 share) Engineer
1894Company never activated
1896 No returns were filed
Disolved under Clause 7(4): 15 September
Although the company was given a registration number in 1881, nothing further seems to have happened. The following year Mr Robertson sold the baths to John Holman and they remained under private ownership
The following indicates the Turkish Baths still trading in 1915.
1915 Middlesbrough WWI roll of honour Herbert Johnson was born in Harrogate and enlisted in Middlesbrough with the 8th battalion of the East Yorkshire Regiment. Corporal Johnson was killed at the Battle of Loos aged 27 on September 26th 1915 and having no known grave is remembered on the Loos Memorial at Dud Corner Cemetery on the Lens to Bethune road. Herbert Johnson was the son of Mr and Mrs E Johnson of the Turkish Baths, Grange Road in Middlesbrough and the husband of Elizabeth Florence Johnson of 50 Severn Street in Middlesbrough.