Southall Workhouse

[Phil Carter]

Hello Neil,

I really like this batch of photos. You have captured the ambience, formality and futility in these photos and I am most impressed with your feel for the place, seen through the lens. Thank you for sharing these with us.

best wishes

Phil

[Monty]

Thank you Phil.

Monty

[Hunter]

Yes, the chamber pots do look quite quaint. I don't know how you are supposed to use them? I imagine they would smell nasty at some point.

Chamber pots were for convienience while you were in bed. They were filled with water to dilute the odors.

It looks like the fireplaces may have originally been built to burn wood but were modified for coal at some point.

Great photos, Monty.

[DanaeChantel]

Hunter it wouldn't matter how much water they put in those pots, I'm sure the smelled abominable. We of today's modern society and flush toilets have no clue as to how things were back in those days. I guess if you didn't know better it would be ok and better than s***** and p***** in the streets.

What if you were a woman? Were you expected to straddle one of those pots? ewwwww! I just can't fathom any of it and feel sorry for anyone back in those days.

Sorry if I have offended anyone.

[DanaeChantel]

That Harry, is the yard toilet.

Monty

I was wondering about that myself. Ewwwww.

[DanaeChantel]

And by the way Monty, the pics are very beautiful. It makes the place look not quite so bad. I could move in there. If they would let me. I could work in the garden.

[Hunter]

Hunter it wouldn't matter how much water they put in those pots, I'm sure the smelled abominable. We of today's modern society and flush toilets have no clue as to how things were back in those days. I guess if you didn't know better it would be ok and better than s***** and p***** in the streets.

What if you were a woman? Were you expected to straddle one of those pots? ewwwww! I just can't fathom any of it and feel sorry for anyone back in those days.

It wasn't that long ago for some. I remember my grandmother having a chamber pot - or what we call in Tennessee a slopjar - under her bed. The real nice ones had a fur lining glued around the top so it wouldn't be cold. It shore beat going to the outhouse at night and wondering what kind of critter might be in there. Possums will eat anything.

[DanaeChantel]

Yikes Hunter! But I guess you are right. It wasn't so long ago. A little over a 100 years. I'm glad I live in today's world.

[Debra A]

Great photos, Monty, very interesting
Thanks for posting them.

[claire]

Excellent photos, Monty; thanks for sharing

(Why is everyone here fixated on the toilet issue [no pun intended]??? )