Cast Hopper - What Period?

[malcolm]

What period would a lead pipe draining a bath into a cast iron hopper be? The lead pipe was stolen together with the other lead work before I moved in but I pushed out some remains to fit the PVC pipe.

I think the structure was built somewhere between 1850 and 1890 and then modified in 1920. Can the lead pipe and cast hopper combination be dated with a before or after date? Internet isn't helping.

 

[88v8]

We had that sort of arrangement in our 1920 house where we inherited all the original plumbing, and I recreated it in our 1991 bathroom, only in copper pipe/hopper.
It's a sight better arrangement than the ridiculous modern version where the waste pipe vanishes into a sealed cover secured by screws that rust into their sockets.

Your hopper looks late Vicy, hard to say more accurately.

Ivor

 

[a twig]

Hi,

This is a first post for me, but I've been lurking for a while. I just though I could chip in with this one, we have identical items on our 1850s cottage in Somerset, still held in place (just about) with the original fittings set into the mortar / stonework - so I'd defo agree with Victorian!

Cheers

 

[malcolm]

Thanks both and welcome a twig. Your place sounds nice. The hopper does look a lot like the reproduction Victorian ones so I'd guess it is original to the building.

I had been hoping to deduce when the ground levels were raised. If the pipe is original and unmodified (as it appears) it might suggest the current ground levels could be original. That part started off as a lean-to extension with the same floor level as the house. There is an older brick built barn about 3m behind with floor and foundation levels about 0.3m higher. The bits between are covered in concrete. The top of the sewer pipe is 0.6m below ground level which would suggest the ground level was the same as existing when it was laid.

On the other hand the collector at the bottom of the pipe look later and the step in the kitchen appears to be some sort of moisture degraded concrete so there might have been a later change to ground level. The wall was raised in 1925ish then not much happened until 1950s to 1970s..

Would the concrete drain collector look 1920s to anyone or is it later? I'd have guessed 1960s from the concrete.

 

[DJH]

Victorian I would say, although the same pattern has been in use for many years. Lead ones are better...they don;t rust for a start.

Doug

 

[Penners]

I can't help you with dating, but I just thought you might like to see another cast hopper.


Don't worry - I've got my coat already.