Bathing for women

Thelma Townsend outside the changing cubicles at Dame's Delight. 1930s.

Women gained access to an official bathing place around 1884, when they could use a spot on the river Cherwell.

From 1891, they could swim at Parson's Pleasure at lunchtimes in University summer vacations. They were allowed into Tumbling Bay around the same time, and later swam at Long Bridges, The Rhea, Dame's Delight and elsewhere.

From St Clements to Dame's Delight. To view the transcript for this audio, click here.

Listen to the audio to hear Pat Hanks recall both written and unwritten rules around gender and social segregation at different bathing spots in Oxford.