The most extravagant historical bathrooms

Baths have been recorded in use as far back as 3000 BC. The ancient inhabitants of Mohenjo-Daro, one of the first civilised cities, had baths built of brick with drainage in the floor connecting the bath to the large local drainage system. These were more advanced than most people would ever associate with such an ancient culture. When we think of historical bathrooms, the common stereotype of communal public spaces in the Roman style is perhaps what comes to mind most immediately. However, not all early bathrooms were of this nature. The Palace of Knossos in Crete made use of an incredibly sophisticated plumbing system not very divergent from that which is used in modern homes today. Similar bathrooms excavated on the Aegean island of Thera have found alabaster bath tubs with twin plumbing fittings, bringing separate hot and cold water. Separate hot and cold taps did not become widespread in Great Britain until the 20th Century.

Whereas bathroom facilities and actual bathing previous took place wherever necessary, designed for convenience rather than in a specific designated room, eventually it was decided there should be a room for the wet equipment and people began to convert the purpose of an existing bedroom into a specific washroom. At this point, everything was wooden. The highest quality bathrooms were built to look like they were full of fine furniture, intricately carved. Only the wealthiest individuals could afford bathrooms, so designs were created catering to this specific market.

One of many legends revolving around historical bathing practices is concerned with the ancient queen Cleopatra and whether or not she bathed in milk. Though evidence is scarce, research suggests there might have been benefits to the treatment. An unusual bathroom for which we do have plenty of evidence, however, is the solid 24 carat gold bathroom of Hong Kong’s Lam Sai-wing, in which absolutely everything is made of solid gold and gemstones. In the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s most expensive toilet, it is not simply the toilet itself which is golden but rather the entire room. The mirror frame, accessories including toilet brushes and paper holders, the wash basins, the wall tiles and even the floor are made from solid gold. The bathroom, worth approximately £7million, is a popular tourist attraction – though visitors must wear protective shoes to prevent damage to the golden floor, and pay to use the solid gold toilet.