Medieval Privies
The seat of a medieval toilet which opens up to a moat below. (Dirk Baltrusch)
Medieval London Privies
In medieval London, prior to the advent of closed sewer systems and indoor flush toilets, latrines became a creative addition to castles, palaces, and the public sphere. With what would be considered now as no technology to flush waste, flowing water became an integral part to latrines. Latrines focused on accessibility and odor control, first among the private households of nobility, then into the public streets of London.
- Waste in medieval London was dealt with in a variety of manners. Creative solutions to waste included latrines and privies attached to systems of flowing water or cesspools, embedded in walls, near chimneys for warmth, attached to cisterns of rainwater.
- Before sewers and modern indoor toilets, waste was a common nuisance among the general public, as household waste often polluted public gutters or the stench of cesspools irritated neighbors. This continued on for centuries after the Middle Ages.
Garderobes
Garderobes, or latrines, in medieval castles became innovative with the disposal of waste, embedding passages within or in combination with pre-existing systems. For example, the moat became a common mode of waste disposal while also serving as a barrier for protection of the castle. Latrines would often jut out from the wall over the moat as seen in the image to the left. This also allowed for latrines to be embedded within the thick walls of the castle, simultaneously dealing smells and privacy, which the image below represents from an interior view. Another innovative solution during the cold winter months, combined latrines with near chimneys. There could be two flues – one for smoke and the other for waste – and keep the user warm while taking care of business. Cesspools would suffice in instances with no water available. These solutions were a result of no sewer system, a later invention, but many did involve the use of water to flush out waste. The focus of these solutions was primarily on accessibility and odor control before the advent of sewers. (303-306)
A garderobe in the Tower of London (Huxham)
Medieval cesspool aproximately 15 feet deep (MOLA)
Cesspools
Sir John Harrington may have been the first to develop the first waste system similar to the one we have today. The accumulation of rainwater in a large tank would allow for a constant supply of water without proximity to a river or stream. The tank’s valve would allow water to fill a bowl at certain times to cover the odor of the waste in the bowl, and once filled, could be released into a cesspool. Similar to modern water closets and flush toilets, this system dealt with odor, water for flushing, and prevented an abundance of waste in the public gutters. (313)
Cesspools, like the one above, remained a common waste disposal system throughout medieval London with the attachment of privies, or outhouses. The matter of cleanliness, more a matter of odor and built up waste, was dealt with by paid privy-cleaners who worked during the night hours. Unfortunately, cesspools used by the poor would be within the same unit as the privy, in which the floor was the only separation between the privy and cesspool below. This led to numerous accidents and deaths. (314-317)
Latrines
Latrines were not just used by royalty, high clergy, and nobility, but reached the public sphere in the 1200s. Public latrines and tenant latrines served the masses, but in small numbers compared to the population of people. At most, three latrines would be provided for a large tenement housing block, but also sometimes not at all, in which case, tenants would use one of the public latrines in London. Sixteen latrines in London were mentioned throughout history, one of which being the London Bridge. This of course was due to the fact that the bridge, and many of the other latrines, was built near running water – perfect for the disposal of waste. However, private latrines, belonging to people of nobility or wealth, would system their own running water as a type of open sewer system. This did not come without cost, the waterways to be cleaned required an annual fee for the cleaners. (306-310)
The monetary price was not the only cost to latrines, the stench was cause for complaints and even indictment in many cases. The “nuisances” and complaints of odor and inconvenience were all too common in medieval London, bringing the problems to the city officials and mayors. This common complaint was a result of no centralized sewer or waste management system, as each household or housing group dealt with waste in their individual way, inconsiderate of the effect on passersby and neighbors to the waste. The creative solutions of each household resulted in the accumulation of waste in the public gutters, which as a result, would become backed up with waste. (311-313)
Bibliography
Sabine, Ernest L. “Latrines and Cesspools of Mediaeval London.” Speculum, vol. 9, no. 3, 1934, pp. 303–321., doi:10.2307/2853898.
Images Cited:
Huxham, Trevor. Garderobe, Tower of London, 06 June 2018. Flickr. https://www.flickr.com/photos/ferrariguy90/3388183916
MOLA. Secrets of the cesspit: Courtauld excavation reveals remnants of 15th century residence, MOLA. https://www.mola.org.uk/blog/secrets-cesspit-courtauld-excavation-reveals-remnants-15th-century-residence
Very interesting information! It’s nice to see the history of toilets from different places around the world. I enjoyed the images as well.
Your overall layout, addition of images, and written essays are very clear! I was intrigued to find these variety of toilet systems from Medieval London! Well done!
Great layout, this post was very clear and the information was intriguing.
This is very clear and easy to read. It’s crazy to think about the accidents and fatalities the poor dealt with with the cesspools.