Un Pissoir Anglais

[Davejl]

This rather splendid Victorian cast iron structure once stood in a cemetery in Leicester. I hadn't appreciated that the English once imitated the French in this matter. As a male of a certain age I can only wish that there could be a revival of these things. This one was manufactured by Steven Bros. of London and has nice decorative detailing, including a lion. What does seem curious, given that the average British male was shorter than nowadays, is the surprising height of the structure. There is no door.

[Shadowman]

You have to consider headwear regarding the height of the structure.

[Geoff F]

I assume it would need to be high enough so the ventilation grid was above the head level of a tall person. So nobody knew who was using it; which prevented any embarrassment. Also, as already mentioned, would a Victorian gentleman be expected to remove his hat? Particularly one of those old 'stove pipe' hats.

And nicely photographed.

[george013]

Nice object. Looks like a refurnished post box to me.

I didn't know it was French. There used to be a lot in Amsterdam, with another shape and more ventilation.

George

[Davejl]

I assume it would need to be high enough so the ventilation grid was above the head level of a tall person. So nobody knew who was using it; which prevented any embarrassment. Also, as already mentioned, would a Victorian gentleman be expected to remove his hat? Particularly one of those old 'stove pipe' hats.

And nicely photographed.

Thanks Geoff. What I wasn’t able to do was add a person to my shot to show just how high it is. I must re-shoot it with my bike propped against it. It seems to me (with my near-Victorian altitude!) to be about eight feet. But then, the Victorians liked to do things in style. I remember visiting a Victorian loo at Wemyss Bay station and the porcelain urinals were like towering monumental sculptures. But I’m sure your explanation is correct

[Davejl]

Nice object. Looks like a refurnished post box to me.

I didn't know it was French. There used to be a lot in Amsterdam, with another shape and more ventilation.

George

I don’t know how common they were in England. I suspect that many would have been removed for their metal value during wartime (as a great many churchyard railings were). I think we Brits tend to think of anything a bit odd such as a loo like this as being French (and I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that the French really do call it “un pissoir anglais”. After all Brits call a condom a “French letter” and the French call it a “capote anglaise”! Incidentally, please don’t tell me that you also had/have those “footprint” loos in Holland

[Davejl]

Just found this interesting website with some splendid examples. I've also discovered that some British-made examples can be found in Australia. But single-person urinals seem quite rare. Seems most of these cast iron structures disappeared in the name of “progress”.

http://www.hevac-heritage.org/items_...et_urinals.htm

[Wavelength]

Nice one

[george013]

I don’t know how common they were in England. I suspect that many would have been removed for their metal value during wartime (as a great many churchyard railings were). I think we Brits tend to think of anything a bit odd such as a loo like this as being French (and I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that the French really do call it “un pissoir anglais”. After all Brits call a condom a “French letter” and the French call it a “capote anglaise”! Incidentally, please don’t tell me that you also had/have those “footprint” loos in Holland

I learned something again. In slang a condom in Dutch, or Amsterdam, is called "kapotje". Now I know where it comes from.
When the former Dutch queen was crowned all the pissoirs on the route where removed.

An example of a Dutch pissoir. It looks more social.



George

[Davejl]

Thanks George,

That is interesting. I didn’t realise that Dutch royalty were so squeamish (at least, I presume that was why they were removed).
I’m not sure how the one you show was flushed: was it with running water? The one in my photo was flushed with rainwater, so it must have got a bit pongy during a drought. Interestingly, I’ve also found that it was originally sited in the cemetery where my great-grandparents are buried, so its quite conceivable that a relative of mine once had a leak in it

[george013]

Thanks George,

That is interesting. I didn’t realise that Dutch royalty were so squeamish (at least, I presume that was why they were removed).
I’m not sure how the one you show was flushed: was it with running water? The one in my photo was flushed with rainwater, so it must have got a bit pongy during a drought. Interestingly, I’ve also found that it was originally sited in the cemetery where my great-grandparents are buried, so its quite conceivable that a relative of mine once had a leak in it

I don't remember they have flushing water. I haven't used them for a long time. They're cleaned regularly.
I like that iron street furniture.

George