The Loo Taboo of Sydney Gardens
Written by Hannah Shergold, a student from Bath Spa University’s Journalism & Publishing BA course.
Once described by literary icon Jane Austen as “a great ornament” Sydney Gardens, the historical pleasure gardens in Bath, have been a part of the city’s landscape since the eighteenth century. From the offset, Sydney Gardens was a popular attraction within the city, frequented by the elite, royalty and Jane Austen herself who lived opposite.
What now provides a great area for dog-walking, picnicking, trainspotting and leisurely walks was once a place of “thrilling entertainments”, including fireworks, concerts, dining outside and drinking tea. Although the function of Sydney Gardens has changed through the years, some facilities have remained, due to their usefulness and importance. Yes, I’m talking about the toilets.
Public toilet provision was “a key element of Victorian and Edwardian public health policy” however female needs were often overlooked. Thomas Hardy’s novel ‘The Mayor of Casterbridge’ details “how women always assumed a subordinate position” within a Victorian Society; but this ideology took a more modern approach as King Edward became king. Talks of elevating women to equal status and granting them the right to vote were the start of the suffrage movement.
The cast iron toilet building, a common feature in parks across the UK at the time, is located within Sydney Gardens today. Before this luxury, it was frequent for men to urinate against a “designated wall”, behind bushes or in temporary shelters. Unfortunately for women, there were no facilities for them to relieve themselves so they would have to either “buy something in a shop or café…or go home”. However, due to the Edwardian loos falling into disrepair, the building is currently prohibited to visitor’s for their safety.
The toilet block was purchased from William Farrer of Star Works in Birmingham for £190, 2s and 6d (worth approximately £15,000 today) in 1913. Fast-forward to 1920 and the idea of a separate Ladies’ toilet was discussed, then being purchased from Walter MacFarlane. The original structure was then converted into a toilet block for just men to use, changing the sinks on the ladies’ side into urinals.
The use of cast-iron was due to it being a cheap building material that was mass-produced. The toilet block would have been a “Kit-set” that could be chosen from a catalogue. One such catalogue writes that “no materials can compare with cast iron for resisting the lodgement of bacteria or disease germs…they can be disinfected quite readily by repainting.” This disinfection technique seems to be a favourite of those in charge of the Garden’s upkeep as recent reports have noted the “numerous” coats of paint, with the most recent being “a variety of greens”.
Since February 2019 the Sydney Gardens Project; a partnership between the Parks Team at Bath and North East Somerset Council, The Friends of Sydney Gardens, local residents’ groups and The Holburne Museum, have secured £3.4m in funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The project will involve the restoration of buildings, landscapes, and gardens. The garden’s history will be celebrated and brought back to life with activities occurring alongside the rejuvenation. The three-year programme, from February 2019 to February 2021 with the physical restoration occurring in the Spring of this year.
The plans for the toilets involve transforming the male toilets into a “museum about the Edwardian Loos with portals the public can look through…along with interpretation panels and photos” says Susan Palmer. As for the ladies’ toilets, they will be “moved to the other side of the path, and will become a useable space for equipment, materials and for visiting learners.”
“The date and quality of design and construction makes this a valuable heritage asset”, being given Grade II listed status by Historic England with its importance being recognised on a national level as the number of similar structures in the UK is low. According to research, the Sydney Gardens toilets and another cast iron toilet building are the only two in Bath and North East Somerset.
This article was written by Hannah Shergold, a 2nd year undergraduate student from Bath Spa University’s Journalism & Publishing BA course. The Sydney Gardens Project is partnering with Bath Spa University’s Journalism & Publishing course enabling students to use Sydney Gardens as an investigative resource for their course work.
References:
(2011) Sydney Gardens, Bath. Jane Austen. Available at: https://www.janeausten.co.uk/sydney-gardens-bath/ (Accessed 21 December 2019)
(2018) Condition and Recommendation Report Temple of Minerva, Loggia, Edwardian Toilets, Gate Piers and Ruinette. IronArt of Bath. Available at: https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn%3Aaaid%3Ascds%3AUS%3Ae2cfc4a4-618f-4088-bb0d-dcc3914d300a (Accessed 21 December 2019)
Currency Converter. The National Archives. Available at: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/currency-converter/#currency-result (Accessed 4 January 2020)
Edwardian Era Society and daily life of the Edwardians. Victorian Era. Available at: http://victorian-era.org/edwardian-era-society.html (Accessed 4 January 2020)
Nodder, C. Historical cast iron Gentlemen’s toilet in Sydney Gardens. Available at: https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn%3Aaaid%3Ascds%3AUS%3A2f22793f-f221-44c5-870e-3cad6290fdff (Accessed 21 December 2019)
Nodder, C. What are the toilets like inside? Available at: https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn%3Aaaid%3Ascds%3AUS%3A62f75bd9-a2c3-4a61-9c2a-4d540fde7662 (Accessed 21 December 2019)
Sydney Gardens National Lottery Heritage Funded Project. Bath & North East Somerset Council. Available at: https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/services/sport-leisure-and-parks/parks-green-spaces-information/sydney-gardens/sydney-gardens-parks-people-heritage-lottery-fund-project (Accessed: 5 January 2020)
Sydney Gardens. Visit Bath. Available at: https://visitbath.co.uk/listings/single/sydney-gardens/ (Accessed: 4 January 2020)
The Pleasure Gardens in the Past. Bath & North East Somerset Council. Available at: https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/services/sport-leisure-and-parks/parks-green-spaces-information/sydney-gardens/pleasure-gardens-past (Accessed: 5 January 2020)
Any views expressed in this article are the views of the author and are not necessarily representative of the Sydney Gardens Project team. Although every effort has been made to ensure that all articles are factually correct at the time of writing, we trust that our authors have thoroughly researched their articles.
