Achmet Borumborad (fl. 1769–1786),Registry of Deeds, Dublin. Memorial 277-76-175483. Date: 01/05/1769.Registry of Deeds, Dublin. Memorial: 375-438-251556. Date: 01/06/1786 Achmet Borumbadad (or sometimes simply Dr. Achmet or Mr. Achmet) was the assumed name of an eccentric medical con-artist, or quack, operating in late 18th-century Dublin, Ireland. He succeeded in gathering financial support for the construction of a Hammam (or "Turkish bath") on the banks of the River Liffey in the city. Purportedly a doctor, Borumborad claimed to have been born in Constantinople (Istanbul) from which he had subsequently fled. In reality, he was the fictitious creation of one Patrick Joyce of Kilkenny, or possibly a William Cairns, or Kearns, of Dublin. Adopting the persona of a native Turk, his unusual dress style, turban, and exotic affectations attracted much attention in the city at the time, and he was noted as "the first Turk who had ever walked the streets of Dublin in his native costume."
History Early life According to historian Frank Hopkins, Joyce had "once been an attendant at a Turkish baths in London", his "only connection to Turkey", whereas historian Maurice Craig contends that Joyce may have actually spent part of his youth in the Levant region. Hopkins claims that his real name was William Cairns, as opposed to Joyce, that he had been born somewhere in the north of Ireland, and had been an apprentice apothecary in Dublin at one point.
Finglas
Borumborad's presence in Dublin was first noted in the year 1769, promoting the curative properties of waters in the suburb of Finglas, to the north of the city. Borumborad was convinced of the healing powers of the local St. Patrick's Well which fed the Finglas baths, publishing a pamphlet that year entitled "A Succinct Narrative of the Virtues of St. Patrick's Well at Finglas in the Cure of Scurbotic Complaints".
According to historian Michael J. Tutty, the pamphlet contained "...testimonials from his patients testifying to the life-giving properties of the waters, and inviting the public to join him in bringing them into use with 'taste and elegance' and in making Finglas a rival of Montpellier - then the great Continental resort". The Dictionary of Irish Biography notes that Borumborad was probably operating a medical practice of some description in Dublin or Finglas at the time, although no records attest to any recognised medical qualification he may have ever achieved.
Ballroom and Baths On 1 May 1769, Borumborad (styled as "Achmet Borumbadad of ffinglass in the County of Dublin, Doctor of Physick") acted as grantor in a Deed of Mortgage to one George Taylor of the City of Dublin, Tallow Chandler, concerning "all that the Spring of water or well situate on the Lands called part of Cardiff's Castle (Cardiffscastle) near the Town of ffinglass (sic) called St. Patrick's well together with that small piece of land adjoining the same part of the said lands as now enclosed [..] together with all buildings and improvements thereon made, built and erected by the said Achmet Borumbadad". The mortgage was valued at £150.Registry of Deeds, Dublin. Memorial: 277-76-175483. "...and witnessing that the said Achmet Borumbadad in consideration of the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds Sterling to him in hand paid by the said George Taylor, the receipt whereof the said thereby acknowledged and thereof did acquit and discharge the said George Taylor, his executors, administrators, did grant, bargain, sell, transferr, assign and make over unto the said George Taylor all that the Spring of water..."
Four months later, on 9 September 1769, Borumborad was involved in a 'Further deed of Mortgage' with the same George Taylor whereby a further consideration of £140 was mentioned, involving the same well in Finglas, but with the addition of "all buildings and improvements erected and made on the said premises now called and known by the name of the Ballroom and Baths".Registry of Deeds, Dublin. Memorial: 276-301-177367. "...reciting the original deed of mortgage made on the premises hereinafter mentioned by the said Achmet Borumbadad to the said George Taylor for securing the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds ster and witnessing that the said Achmet Borumbadad in consideration of the further sum of one hundred and forty pounds ster to him in hand paid by the said George Taylor did grant, bargain, sell, assign and make over unto the said George Taylor all that spring of water..." Borumborad subsequently sub-leased the lands to Taylor in a Deed of Assignment dated 7 November 1769, for the residue (remainder) of an 18-year lease he himself had been leasing from one "Richard Shew of Ffinglass aforesaid, ffarmer".Registry of Deeds, Dublin. Memorial: 275-386-178090. "A Memorial of a Deed of Assignment... witnessing that the said Achmet Borumbadad for the considerations therein mentioned did grant, bargain, sell, assign and make over unto the said George Taylor all that the Spring of water... to hold unto the said George Taylor, his executors, administrators and assigns for the residue of a sum of eighteen years of a Lease made by Richard Shew of Ffinglass aforesaid, ffarmer, to the said Achmet Borumbadad in said Deed of Assignment mentioned, at and under the yearly rent and covenants thereof..." It is unclear when Borumborad had initially begun leasing the land from Shew.
Conception of Batchelors Quay baths Prior the Acts of Union 1800 between England and Ireland, Ireland had a parliament of her own which, according to librarian Michael Hewson, "had been fairly generous in making grants for projects which seemed worthwhile". Borumborad made use of this favourable environment and lobbied Parliament for money to build 'Hot and Cold Sea-Water Baths' along the quays of the River Liffey, together with free medical attention for the poor who attended. His plans were publicly endorsed by 50 surgeons and physicians, and 56 members of the Irish parliament who agreed to pay an annual sum for the upkeep of the facility. At various points between 1771 and 1781, Borumborad petitioned for help, and was "usually successful", according to Hewson.
On 4 May 1771, a notice appeared in the Freeman's Journal declaring the approbation, or approval, of a list of 30 named physicians, and 19 chirurgeons, who believed that Borumborad was competent in carrying a "Publick Bath" scheme into existence. Amongst those who committed their support were John Rutty, Charles Lucas, Fielding Ould, John Curry, Clement Archer, Francis Hutcheson and Philip Woodroffe.
Five days later, on 9 May 1771, the same paper laid out a prepared list of 11 'Proposals for Establishing a Set of Elegant and Commodious Baths in the City of Dublin' detailing the range of services the intended baths should offer, the desired equipment, and the details for a public subscription in order to raise the necessary funds to build it, which they valued at £612, 4 shillings. As part of the manifesto, the "erection, direction and conduct of the baths (were) committed to Mr. Achmet": I. That a convenient Building, or Buildings, shall be erected, fit to contain all the various Kinds of Baths, simple or medicated, cold, temperate, tepid, or warm, with Stoves and Vapor Baths, Pumps or Water Brushes, with convenient Chambers and Appendages.
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IX. That the Erection, Direction and Conduct of the Baths be committed to Mr. Achmet, who pledges himself with the Public, to carry the Scheme, with the utmost Exactness and Fidelity, into Execution, so as best may answer the Expectation of the Public in general, the Subscribers in particular, and more especially, the Learned of the Faculty of Physic (sic), and Profession of Surgery, under whose Direction and Auspices, he wishes to conduct the Baths.Proposals for Establishing a Set of Elegant and Commodious Baths in the City of Dublin:I. That a convenient Building, or Buildings, shall be erected, fit to contain all the various Kinds of Baths, simple or medicated, cold, temperate, tepid, or warm, with Stoves and Vapor Baths, Pumps or Water Brushes, with convenient Chambers and Appendages.II. That the Cold Baths shall be simple cold Water, or medicated with Saline or other Substances, and brought to such Degrees of Cold or other Temperatures, as shall be judged Agreeable to the Directions and Intentions of the Prescribers.III. That there shall be several Baths for Temperate, tepid, or warm Bathing, simple or medicated and brought to such Degree of Temperature, as shall be directed by the Prescribers.IV. That there shall be several Stoves and Vapor Baths, simple, or medicated, and of whatever Temperature the Prescribers shall direct, calculated for the whole Body, or any Part or Limb, so as to answer the Intentions of the Prescribers.V. That the Baths shall be furnishes with a Machine or Machines, to throw Water simple, or medicated, cold or warm, in any Direction, in any Volume or Form, and with any Force required, upon the whole or any Part of the Body, agreeable to the Directions and Intentions of the prescribers.VI. That every Process of Bathing shall be furnished with fit Chambers, for dressing, for sweating, reposing, &c. &c. and all other Conveniences found useful and necessary by the judicious Prescribers.VII. That a Subscription be opened, to raise a sufficient Fund to carry this extensive and useful Scheme into Execution, which is computed to amount to 612l. 4s.VIII. That as soon as the Subscription is full, before any Subscription is paid, the several Subscribers shall meet and appoint a Treasurer, or Treasurers, or Trustees, to see the Subscription properly and faithfully expended.IX. That the Erection, Direction and Conduct of the Baths be committed to Mr. Achmet, who pledges himself with the Public, to carry the Scheme, with the utmost Exactness and Fidelity, into Execution, so as best may answer the Expectation of the Public in general, the Subscribers in particular, and more especially, the Learned of the Faculty of Physic, and Profession of Surgery, under whose Direction and Auspices, he wishes to conduct the Baths.X. That the Expences (sic) of each and every of the Baths, or other Processes of Bathing, shall be regulated by the Subscribers, when the Building and Baths are finished. And,XI. That each Subscriber shall be intitled (sic) to take the Value of his Subscription, in the Use of the Baths, or by a Ticket transfer his Right to any other Decent Orderly Person or Persons.
At the end of the same article, Borumborad thanked the committee for their approbation and assured them that the project would greatly benefit the public, and reflect much honour on the committee members too. He took the opportunity to remind the physicians that until such time as he could receive their patients at the new baths, his baths at Finglass would remain open and had "almost every convenience in it for to accommodate your patients (sic) [..] where the situation has all those properties which constitute good air". He noted he could also procure lodgings for patients if needed at "agreeable lodges", and signed off using only his first name - Achmet. The proposals, as well as Borumborad's response, were reprinted in the 11 May 1771 edition of Freeman's Journal.
Opening of baths
In October 1771, Borumborad finally opened his new Turkish baths at Batchelors Quay (modern day Bachelors Walk). Hopkins notes that the endeavour was based at number 40 Bachelor's Quay and named the 'Royal Patent Baths'. In 1771, the House of Commons Journals make note of financial support given to 'Dr Achmet' for his baths, and notes are recorded for several following years after. The baths were a great success, with Jonah Barrington (judge, lawyer and prominent Dublin socialite) proclaiming that "a more ingenious or useful establishment could not be formed in any metropolis."