Early Swimming Clubs: A Question of Class

Abstract

The early swimming clubs during the Victorian period met the varying needs of a range of different groups within society at the time. The groups associated with the different types of clubs include firstly the upper and middle classes. They needed to belong to leisure organisations that both met their requirements for sport or physical activity and also allowed them to meet other social needs in relation to their leisure being distinctive and maintaining their class position and separation from the lower classes. The second group contains two sub groups: the upper middle class managers or owners of factories and secondly the allied groups of those involved in the running of organisations aiming to attract large memberships such as churches. Both these groups sought leisure activity for their employees or members that served as an attraction and incentive to attendance and also that was likely to have positive outcomes in relation to education, health and general behaviour. The third group are the working class individuals who sought leisure activity that was inexpensive, easy to access, provided some form of entertainment and provided respite from the constant effort of work and the harsh living conditions that many of them endured.