A hip bath requires the bather to sit rather than lie. This type of hip bath was very popular among the Victorians, especially in houses without running water, as it was small enough to fill with jugs or kettles, or if you were lucky hot water.
Families would often have a bath night (perhaps once a week) when everyone took turns to wash using the same water as the previous user using the same bar of soap. Setting up a bath night for a large family was a major operation, and was arranged to make sure everyone had at least a quick dook.
The Wick Society
18 - 27 Bank Row, Wick, Caithness, KW1 5EY