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Finnish Olympic Sauna

Coordinates: 51°18′05″N 0°27′12″E / 51.3015°N 0.4534°E / 51.3015; 0.4534
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Finnish Olympic Sauna
Map
TypeSauna
LocationCobdown Park, Aylesford ME20 6DD, England
Coordinates51°18′05″N 0°27′12″E / 51.3015°N 0.4534°E / 51.3015; 0.4534
Built1948
ArchitectToivo Jäntti
Listed Building – Grade II
Official nameFinnish Olympic Sauna
Designated15 January 2024
Reference no.1487251[1]

The Finnish Sauna Bath London 1948, also known in the British context as the Finnish Olympic Sauna or the Cobdown Sauna (after its current location), is a sauna facility located in Cobdown Park, Aylesford, Kent, England.[1]

It was built by the Finnish timber building supplier Puutalo [fi] for use by the athletes and other members of the Finnish team at the London 1948 Olympics,[2] in line with Finland's tradition of building 'Olympic saunas' for its athletes' use going back to the Paris 1924 games.[2]

The sauna was originally located in the athletes' village in Richmond Park, London, from where it was moved to the Reed Paper Mill in Aylesford a year later, and eventually from there to its current location nearby in 1957.[1]

Of single-storey, wooden, prefabricated construction, the building was designed by Finnish architect Toivo Jäntti [fi].[2] It comprises the sauna room as well as a washroom, a dressing/massage room, and a kitchen.[3]

The facility was in regular use until 2020, when it was closed down for safety reasons pending refurbishment.[4]

It is thought to be England's oldest purpose-built sauna still in use, and the oldest surviving Finnish 'Olympic sauna' anywhere in the world.[5]

In January 2024, the building received Grade II listed status from Historic England.[1][5]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d "Finnish Olympic Sauna". Historic England. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "'Time capsule' sauna donated by Finnish team to 1948 London Olympics wins Grade II listing". The Standard. 20 January 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  3. ^ "Finnish sauna in Kent gifted to UK after 1948 Olympics granted listed status". ITV. 19 January 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  4. ^ "Wooden sauna from 1948 London Olympics gets Grade II listing". The Guardian. 19 January 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Olympic Finnish sauna in Kent given Grade II listed status". BBC News. 19 January 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2024.