A Little Sea Bathing

The Handbook of Bathing vigorously warned against “the coarse brutality of the bathing-women” and their potential to wreak grievous harm upon sea bathers. Brighton’s most famous dipper, Martha Gunn was surely an example the most excellent sort of dipper.

Early history

Born as Martha Killick in 1726, Martha was the daughter of Anne Bridger and Friend Killick of Brighthelmstone. (The name Brighton, a shortened form of Brighthemston first appeared in 1660 and gradually replaced the longer old name.) During the 1740s, she found employment as a dipper, taking advantage of a new economic opportunity, the sea-bathing industry.  

She married Stephen Gunn in 1758 and gave birth to at least eight children—which says a great deal about her constitution! Sadly, half of them, two daughters and two sons, predeceased her. Her family line continued through her other children, and direct descendants of hers are alive today. It is interesting to note that Martha Gunn did not retire until her late 80s, meaning that she was actively working as a dipper while raising her family, probably dipping through pregnancy as well.

Queen of the Dippers

During the late 1700s and early 1800s, about twenty bathers and dippers operated bathing machines at Brighton. Working first as a dipper, then later as the owner of several bathing machines and employer of other dippers, Martha Gunn gained an amazing reputation. The Morning Herald described her as “The Venerable Priestess of the Bath.” Later she became known as the Queen of the Dippers.

Not only did she have entrepreneurial skills, allowing her to develop a thriving business from whose profits she purchased her family a house, her customer service skills were literally legendary. Local folklore suggests that ladies lined up at her door to obtain her services, suggesting she possessed a great deal of sensitivity toward her clientele. She would have also had to be strong enough to safely manage women who could not swim and might well panic getting in and out of the water. Knowledge of the weather and the ability to interpret the conditions of the sea would have also been crucial.

Apparently, the Prince of Wales had a great fondness for her, giving her rights to enter the royal kitchens at Brighton at will. Some reports credit her with teaching the Prince to swim, but a quick examination of dates and timelines makes it clear those reports are untrue. However, she is credited with having been the first to dip the young Princess Charlotte.

French Invasion OR Brighton in a Bustle

Such was her fame that John Colley Nixon added her likeness to his satirical print “A French Invasion or Brighton in a Bustle’. The print shows a group of French soldiers trying to invade England via Brighton and being repelled by a troop of locals, led by Martha Gunn. Her image is in the lower left of center, lifting a French soldier from the ground with one hand.

Death and Memorial

Martha Gunn died on 2 May 1815 at age 88. The Leicester Journal reported that “the ceremony throughout was conducted with the greatest order and solemnity.” The Hampshire Chronical noted that with many relatives and mourners following her remains to Brighton’s St. Nicholas’ churchyard for burial.

Her tombstone in the churchyard reads:

“MARTHA, Wife of STEPHEN GUNN, who was Peculiarly Distinguished as a bather in this Town nearly 70 Years. She died 2nd of May, 1815, Aged 88 Years.”

Martha Gunn References

Leicester Journal, 19 May 1815, p. 1.

Hampshire Chronicle, 15 May 1815

https://www.photohistory-sussex.co.uk/BTNCHAR_MarthaGunn.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martha_Gunn

https://www.geriwalton.com/brighton-dipper-martha-gunn/

https://brightonmuseums.org.uk/discover/2020/03/04/queen-of-the-the-dippers-the-pioneering-and-entrepreneurial-martha-gunn/