Remarkable isn’t it? This seemingly unassuming structure before you is Princess Amelia’s Bathhouse. Princess Amelia the second daughter of King George II owned the Gunnersbury Estate. She used it as her summer residence. Between 1777 and 1784 she commissioned this bathhouse a true hidden gem of Gunnersbury Park.
Princess Amelia’s Bathhouse is more than just a bathhouse. It’s a fascinating blend of history and architecture. It started as a garden folly. Think of it as a whimsical building. A space for relaxation and perhaps a bit of playful indulgence.
Archaeological digs revealed secrets. The earliest parts include a grotto decorated with shells glass flint and minerals. A deep bathing pool was part of this grotto. An adjacent chamber existed. Both were built with pinkish-red 18th-century bricks. Interestingly a wall between the rooms used older bricks. These were found in other park walls. Perhaps these older bricks came from a previous structure on the estate.
Later alterations changed the bathhouse’s function. Between 1804 and 1838 a dairy was established in the chamber. The drainage system suggests this use. The Rothschilds later acquired the estate. They further developed the bathhouse in the 1870s or 1880s. They added Japanese-style glazed wall tiles.
The small walled garden was enhanced. A cascade was incorporated. The garden had a cave-like appearance. This effect was created with quartz crystals alabaster fragments and cement stalactites.
The water source remains a mystery. Perhaps Princess Amelia had servants who manually supplied water. Dairying requires much water. Fragments of lead pipes were found. Further research is needed to reveal the complete water system. Princess Amelia’s Bathhouse is truly a testament to a rich past. The restoration efforts have preserved this unique historical site.