Traditional Baths

A traditional bath sets the pace of a period bathroom, with curved sides and proportions that suggest you're meant to stay in it a while. Ours run from 1600mm to 1800mm, in boat shaped freestanding designs on a solid plinth and a bath supplied complete with its own surround.

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1600mm Freestanding Boat Bath with Plinth Chester

£975.00

1700mm Freestanding Boat Bath with Plinth Chester

£1,120.00

1800 x 800 Bath with Surround White Bow

£1,250.00

What styles of traditional baths are available?

Three, and they split neatly. The Chester boat bath comes at 1600mm and 1700mm, freestanding on a solid plinth, for rooms where the bath stands away from the wall. The Bow is 1800 x 800mm and arrives with its own surround, so it gives you a finished period look against a wall with no separate panel to source. For more shapes in the same spirit, our freestanding baths collection has roll top and slipper designs.

What is a boat bath?

The name describes it well enough. Both ends curve up, and the sides taper in towards the base, giving a hull-like profile that looks as considered from across the room as it does from the doorway. Both ends are the same height, so you can lean against either one, and the waste sits centrally. It's the shape to choose if you want something period in feel without the ornamentation of a roll top.

Do they sit on feet or a plinth?

The Chester baths sit on a plinth, which is a solid base running the length of the bath. It's worth knowing the difference before you choose. A plinth hides the pipework completely and gives the bath a heavier, more grounded presence, and there's no gap underneath collecting dust and water. Claw and ball feet give you that classic Victorian silhouette and let light travel under the bath, at the cost of an awkward space to clean.

What sizes are they?

1600mm, 1700mm and 1800mm. The 1600mm Chester is the one to look at if your room is a normal size, since a freestanding bath needs clear space on every side to look right rather than crammed in. Allow at least 100mm around every exposed side, and measure your doorways and the turn at the top of the stairs before ordering. Our guide on how to choose a bath covers the rest of the measuring.

Can I shower over a traditional bath?

Not over the freestanding ones, realistically. With no walls on three sides there's nowhere to fix a screen, and a curved base is uncomfortable to stand on. The Bow sits against a wall with its surround, which makes it the workable option if you need one fixture to do both, though check screen fixing on the product page first. Where showering matters daily, a separate enclosure alongside the bath is the better plan, and our shower enclosures cover the compact end.

What taps do I need for a traditional bath?

A freestanding boat bath takes a floor mounted freestanding tap standing beside it, and the tap is as much of the look as the bath, so it's worth spending properly here. Traditional taps in chrome or brushed brass suit these shapes, with crosshead handles reading more period than levers. Match your waste to the tap finish, and carry the same metal through to the towel rail to pull the room together.

The 1700mm Chester carries a 10 year guarantee, and every order comes with 365-day returns and free delivery over £50 on a date you choose, with details on our delivery information page. A traditional bath is a considered purchase, and the proportions are hard to judge from a photograph, so come and see these at our Birmingham showroom seven days a week, or call the team on 0121 753 0700.

Can I have a shower over a traditional bath?

It depends on the type. A traditional straight bath fitted into a three-wall alcove works well with an over-bath shower and screen. Freestanding traditional baths are generally not ideal for showering — the lack of surrounding walls makes it difficult to contain water, and the curved base can be uncomfortable to stand on. If you want both a freestanding traditional bath and a shower, the most practical approach is to install them as separate fixtures. Some customers add a freestanding bath filler with an attached hand shower for rinsing, but this isn't a substitute for a proper shower setup.

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