One of the first attempts to address the challenge of improving public health in England came with the Public Baths and Wash-houses Act in 1846 which gave local authorities the power to fund building and operation of these establishments.

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The problems which the new urban population faced in keeping themselves and their belongings clean were gradually recognised as a source of both disease and more general misery. Public baths were a necessary response.

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The Act controlled prices to be charged at the baths and also gave local government scope to borrow via the Government to build baths. Some local authorities took advantage of the Act to include swimming pools as part of the Public Baths.