| Finnish Olympic Sauna | |
|---|---|
| Type | Sauna |
| Location | Cobdown Park, Aylesford ME20 6DD, England |
| Coordinates | 51°18′05″N 0°27′12″E / 51.3015°N 0.4534°E / 51.3015; 0.4534 |
| Built | 1948 |
| Architect | Toivo Jäntti |
| Listed Building – Grade II | |
| Official name | Finnish Olympic Sauna |
| Designated | 15 January 2024 |
| Reference no. | 1487251 |
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.
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, in line with Finland's tradition of building 'Olympic saunas' for its athletes' use going back to the Paris 1924 games.
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.
Of single-storey, wooden, prefabricated construction, the building was designed by Finnish architect Toivo Jäntti [fi]. It comprises the sauna room as well as a washroom, a dressing/massage room, and a kitchen.
The facility was in regular use until 2020, when it was closed down for safety reasons pending refurbishment.
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.
In January 2024, the building received Grade II listed status from Historic England.
References
- ^ "Finnish Olympic Sauna". Historic England. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
- ^ "'Time capsule' sauna donated by Finnish team to 1948 London Olympics wins Grade II listing". The Standard. 20 January 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
- "Finnish sauna in Kent gifted to UK after 1948 Olympics granted listed status". ITV. 19 January 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
- "Wooden sauna from 1948 London Olympics gets Grade II listing". The Guardian. 19 January 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
- ^ "Olympic Finnish sauna in Kent given Grade II listed status". BBC News. 19 January 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
