Period Toilets (Rant)

[DJH]

I've come across a nice little book while cataloguing my collection (yes, still at it!!) called Somerset Privies by Hilary Binding (a pun there maybe?) and thought Vicky might be interested in it. Anyway, the author includes an interview with an elderly gentleman who had used an earth closet (bucket lavatory) throughout his life without the use of chemicals only sawdust sometimes with earth. The sawdust for absorbency and smell, pitch pine comes to mind for that.

The bucket was emptied daily over an area of soil topped with a layer of cut weeds, grass or straw and then covered again with kitchen waste etc to der flies etc. A thin layer of soil after a week or so and after some months would be covered over with vegetation, straw etc and topped with soil and allowed to compost away.

Sounds good to me. Anyone for potting out seeds/plants for me??

Doug

 

[Penners]

Somerset Privies by Hilary Binding

Surely, if it was going to be a pun, the author would be I. P. Daley.

 

[DJH]

Maybe, but don't call me Shirley....

Doug

 

[Penners]

Your spelling is atroshus.

 

[vicky whitworth]

I see where I stand. Known as the person who might be interested in privies 8) Are Somerset privies different to Devon ones? Somewhere I think I have a book called Devon privies. Our Devon privy is shown on the 1781 estate map - how's that for longevity? Only in use now as a storage place for chicken food and straw. It's in need of some TLC as it's slowly collapsing into its pit.

 

[DJH]

Oops! Sorry Vicky I meant you might like it because you like books...

How's your leg nowadays? (creep creep ) I've just been back for a six week checkup on my new hip and the x-ray was good with everything still in place. Can't drive for another six weeks or so which is quite nice in some ways because it means I get to hang around at home doing nothing apart from messing with books and photos.

I came across this little book that was given out as a freebie with Period House magazine some years ago. First published in 1980 it's ISBN number is 0583318665 and I'm sure the publishers will allow me to recommend it.



Doug

 

[Keithj]

Thanks for that, Doug. Book duly ordered - Abe books, 66p (plus four quid P&P).