Derelict London - Photography, Social History and Guided Walking Tours
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    • Then and Now Pics North of the River
  • London Transport
    • Derelict London Tube Trains and Stations
    • Derelict London Railway Stations,Lines and Rolling Stock
    • Derelict London Trams
  • Factories and Warehouses
    • North of the Thames Factories and Warehouses
    • South of the Thames Factories and Warehouses
  • Derelict London Homes
    • Homes North of the Thames
    • Homes South of The Thames
    • Derelict homes now Demolished
  • Derelict London Cinemas
  • Derelict London Hospitals
    • Hospitals North of the River
    • Hospitals South of the River
    • Hospitals: Then & Now pics
  • Derelict London Pools and Baths
  • Music History
    • London's Lost Music venues 2
  • Various Derelict London Buildings
  • Derelict London Pubs
    • North London
    • Derelict East London Pubs >
      • East London Pubs from Dereliction to Demolition
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      • East London Pubs Back from the Brink
    • Central London
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Derelict London - Photography, Social History and Guided Walking Tours
Picture
​Derelict London - Toilets​
Sign for closed down Gents public toilet in South Norwood in the London Borough of Croydon
South Norwood SE25
Picture of signs for public toilet signs on railway stations in London Transport Museum depot in Acton
Acton

​How it all began:

George Jennings (1810 –1882) was an English sanitary engineer and plumber invented the first public flush toilets.

At The Great Exhibition at Hyde Park in 1851 Jennings installed his Monkey Closets in the Retiring Rooms of The Crystal Palace. These were the first public toilets, and they caused great excitement. During the exhibition, 827,280 visitors paid one penny to use them; for the penny they got a clean seat, a towel, a comb and a shoe shine. "To spend a penny" became a euphemism for going to the toilet.

Jennings excelled in public sanitation projects such as the design of the underground 'public convenience'. The entrances to these were elaborate metal railings and arches lit by lamps, with interiors built of slate and later, of ceramic tiles.
overgrown derelict  toilet cubicle in South London
Crayford
'Elderly people, disabled people, people with carers, women and children all have their lives limited by the UK’s lack of public toilets. We need to talk about this unseen sanitation crisis'   says New Statesman
Dartford
Not only did public toilets prevent the incidences of people using shop doorways as toilets, they did provide an opportunity for gay men to find others like themselves
Bromley
Access to a toilet is a human right – closing public loos is one austerity cut too many
Holborn
George Jennings was an English sanitary engineer and plumber who invented the first public flush toilets.
Silvertown
Visitor surveys say a lack of public conveniences in city centres is one of the top three complaints, and the charity Help the Aged says more than half of older people stay at home for fear of not being able to find a toilet.
Bow
 The Romans and Victorians could meet the basic human need of providing toilets, but it seems we cannot
Kentish Town
George Jennings specialised in designing toilets that were as perfect a sanitary closet as can be made & excelled in public sanitation projects inc the design of the underground 'public convenience'. The entrances to these were elaborate metal railings and arches lit by lamps, with interiors built of slate and later, of ceramic tiles.
Bloomsbury

Spending a penny....The Continued Decline of the Public Toilet 

pictures of derelict vandalised toilets in London
After 18 years of running this Derelict London website I am still stumbling across lots of closed down toilets. A BBC report in 2016 said at least 1782 facilities have closed across the UK in the last decade (disclosed after a Freedom of Information request).

Gradually a few are being regenerated but not as public toilets.

Converting abandoned public toilets in London into flats and businesses is providing a solution to rising property prices for some.

Here is a link to a BBC TV news item that Derelict London was involved in:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-21195520

Derelict underground public toilets in  the middle of Farringdon Road, EC1
Farringdon Road, EC1
Charlton SE7 Derelict Public Toilet in Maryon Wilson Park by Paul Talling of Derelict London
Charlton SE7
Isle of Dogs E14 Disused Public Toilet.
Isle of Dogs E14
'Access to a toilet is a human right – closing public loos is one austerity cut too many' 
 Janet Street-Porter (The Independent 2016)

Archway, N19 - Disused Public Toilets

Picture of decaying toilet bowl at disused public WC in North London
Archway, N19 - Disused Public Toilets
Picture of derelict London public toilets disused for several decades
Archway, N19 - Disused Public Toilets
​These defunct toilets are situated in front of the Archway Tavern on a site that has housed pubs since the 1700s, with the current pub building being built in 1888. It's interior features on the cover of the Kinks' album "Muswell Hillbillies" (despite being a couple of miles away from Muswell Hill)

The pub has recently reopened after being closed for a few years (including a brief stint as the ill-fated relocation of the West End's Intrepid Fox goth and metal boozer). It now sits on a recently pedestrianised square and offers some tasty beers including a Muswell Hillbilly IPA. The toilets have a tablet laid by the Metropolitan Borough of Islington dated 1939. The tablet is barely legible but another date on there of 1896 is when it was likely built and presumably remodelled in 1939 as early photographs show that the original entrances were different. 

As the area has received a substantial facelift over the years and is 'on the way up' it is just a matter of time before plans emerge for these former public loos.
Derelict stairwell down to subterranean public toilets in Archway, North London
As the area has received a substantial facelift over the years and is 'on the way up' it is just a matter of time before plans emerge for these former public loos in Archway, North London
Damp dingy derelict abandoned London public toilets in Archway
Greenery and porcelain tiles in disused public WC
Abandoned porcelain toilet pans in derelict conveniences in North London
The disused Archway toilets have a tablet laid by the Metropolitan Borough of Islington dated 1939.
Nature takes over derelict abandoned London gents public conveniences in Archway
Please use toilets provided sign for public conveniences in Brick Lane, East London, E1
Please Use Toilets Provided - Brick Lane, E1
Derelict London Toilets - No longer a public convenience in High Holborn
No Longer a Public Convenience - High Holborn

Picture of Bow, E3, Derelict Public Conveniences
Bow, E3
Picture of interior of  closed down Victorian (opened 1899) public toilets by St Mary's Church in Bow
Bow, E3
"Many public loos occupy prime sites; thanks to the property boom, local councils have found themselves sitting on a valuable asset."
The statue is of the then Liberal Prime Minister William Gladstone erected in 1882 by Theodore Bryant of the nearby Bryant & May match factory.
Prime Minister William Gladstone erected in 1882 by Theodore Bryant of the nearby Bryant & May match factory. The statue was erected using the surplus money Bryant & May gained once matches were no longer taxed (the taxes were abolished in theory to increase the worker’s wages).The female workers were forced to take a half day’s unpaid leave  to celebrate the statue’s unveiling and are said to have cut their arms in protestation.The outstretched hand of the statue has been daubed with red paint on several occasions as a tribute to the women.
Victorian engineer George Jennings who pioneered London's distinctive public conveniences - tiled underground chambers marked by iron railings or arches at street level.
Public Toilet in Bow Constructed by the Board of Works for the Poplar District
Public toilets with a thick layer of recent  rat droppings as a potential slip hazard down the steps.
decay and the march of progress driven by local admin, mindless destruction of local history and individual style rubbed out forever.
The arts installation involved red paint which is why some of the tiles are daubed in it. This red paint is symbolic of the statue which sits above the toilets. The statue is of the then Liberal Prime Minister William Gladstone
Playwright George Bernard Shaw, who was also a local politician, sparked outrage among burghers in his north London ward when he campaigned for a lavatory for the female workers of Camden Town.

Bow, E3 - Derelict Public Conveniences

These long closed down Victorian (opened 1899) public toilets by St Mary's Church in Bow were in far cleaner condition than I expected when I popped down via a small gap in the fence recently. This was due to a project which cleaned out the litter and opened the toilets as an arts installation called "Listed Loo" for just one weekend in 2012. So only a few years instead of 23+ years of litter though  there was still a thick layer of recent  rat droppings as a potential slip hazard down the steps. 

The arts installation involved red paint which is why some tiles are daubed in it. This red paint is symbolic of the statue which sits above the toilets. The statue is of the then Liberal Prime Minister William Gladstone erected in 1882 by Theodore Bryant of the nearby Bryant & May match factory. The statue was erected using the surplus money Bryant & May gained once matches were no longer taxed (the taxes were abolished in theory to increase the worker’s wages). The female workers were forced to take a half day’s unpaid leave  to celebrate the statue’s unveiling and are said to have cut their arms in protestation. The outstretched hand of the statue has been daubed with red paint on several occasions as a tribute to the women.

'Elderly people, disabled people, people with carers, women and children all have their lives limited by the UK’s lack of public toilets. We need to talk about this unseen sanitation crisis'   
​New Statesman

​Kennington SE11 - Disused Public Toilets

Looking for a good time with Ray. Picture of public toilet graffiti in London
Kennington SE11 - Disused Public Toilets
​These (now Grade II listed) gentleman's public toilets at Kennington Cross were built in 1898 as a result of the 1891 Public Health/London Act by the local authority with fittings by Finch and Co. of Lambeth. Wikipedia states that 'Charlie Chaplin is thought to have used the lavatory during his childhood, and writes about sitting nearby when locked out of his home'.

Original features include white marble urinals with black marble modesty screens and ceramic roundels inscribed "B Finch and Co Limited, Sanitary Engineers, Lambeth SE", three cubicles and a cast iron water tank with glass panels, a mosaic floor from the 1960s and an attendant's booth. Nice 'stink pipe' too. Despite the toilets closing in 1988 this one looks in good condition as it was renovated by a community project called ArtsLav who used it as an arts centre from 2013 until 2017. The council then leased it to Bermondsey Arts Club Limited who intend to convert it into a cocktail bar like what they have done with the former toilets on Tower Bridge Rd. Meanwhile, the site remains vacant. The cubicle doors show some interesting 1980s graffiti. 

Allen Maskell writes to Derelict London : “Excellent site, decay and the march of progress driven by local admin, mindless destruction of local history and individual style rubbed out forever. Keep it up, please, perhaps one day these people will change. Your section on Underground public toilets is of great interest to me as I do remember years ago an offer from Lambeth of a £1 per year lease deal. Perhaps I was dreaming. My idea then was to lease those disused gents to open a music studio,  the offer from the Mayor and his merry men disappeared quickly.”
 Grade II listed gentleman's public toilets at Kennington Cross were built in 1898 as a result of the 1891 Public Health London Act
Wikipedia states that 'Charlie Chaplin is thought to have used the Kennington public lavatory during his childhood, and writes about sitting nearby when locked out of his home'
a sewer ventilation stack or stinkpipe outside disused public toilets in Kennington, South London
decay and the march of progress driven by local admin, mindless destruction of local history and individual style rubbed out forever.
attendant's booth in disused gents toilet in Kennington South London
 mosaic floor of abandoned underground toilets in South London
 white marble urinals with black marble modesty screens and ceramic roundels inscribed "B Finch and Co Limited, Sanitary Engineers, Lambeth SE"
 Disused public toilets in Kennington with white marble urinals with black marble modesty screens and ceramic roundels inscribed "B Finch and Co Limited, Sanitary Engineers, Lambeth SE"
cast iron water tank with glass panels in derelict South London toilet
Vacant public loos in South London by Derelict London's Paul Talling
Disused underground public toilets in London
The cubicle doors of these derelict public toilets show some interesting 1980s graffiti
massive dick cruising  graffiti in gents toilet in Kennington, South London
1980s National Front and skinhead graffiti in London public toilets

MILLWALL 


This "amazing find" of a derelict public toilet was in a park in the Isle of Dogs overlooked by the concrete & glass structures of Canary Wharf. I was disappointed not to see any rats..... To clear up any confusion here, this Millwall is actually north of the Thames and not SE London. Many people presume that Millwall is in SE London because the football team recently played in New Cross & now in Bermondsey. Millwall Rovers was founded by workers at Morton's Jam Factory on the Isle of Dogs in 1885. Millwall played on a variety of grounds on the Isle of Dogs. They moved South of the River to The Den at New Cross, SE14 in 1910. These pictures were taken a few years ago and the building has since been demolished.

'Save Public Lavatories! They’re part of our Heritage and should be  preserved like red telephone boxes, hedgehogs and Mick Jagger!' 
Bus Pass Elvis Party aka Church of the Militant Elvis


Notting Hill Gate W11


​Craig writes to Derelict London: "a popular toilet was Notting Hill Gate. In the rush hours, it was standing room only!  It was very popular with married men and other 'straights' looking for a fumble on the way home. Today, there are very few public toilets left which is a shame. Not only did they prevent the incidences of people using shop doorways as toilets, they did provide an opportunity for gay men to find others like themselves long before gay bars. Public toilets are not a very photogenic subject, unless you are Verity Lambert, who wrote an excellent book on the subject praising the architecture of such places, but they did fulfil a useful role for lonely men and the police who were happy to spend hours, if not days, spying on the activities through holes drilled into the lock-up doors or from empty council flats opposite. Lambeth Council was delighted to allow this. The Victorian underground toilet at Kennington Oval was often raided on the pretext that some member of the public had complained. I think it had more to do with gay men being seen as soft targets. Today, attitudes have changed. However, many public toilets have seen the end of careers for both famous people and others who were caught in flagrante delicto."
Notting Hill Gate disused public toilets in tube station
Notting Hill Gate W11

 ​Clerkenwell Green, E2


The proposed development of these disused public underground toilets on this historic green have been the subject of much outrage among residents and local traders. The Council have scrapped plans due to public pressure despite planning interest from 19 companies.

The Green has been visited by generations of political dissenters from the Wat Tyler to Lenin. In 1842, the Prime Minister Robert Peel banned public meetings from taking place here. In 1890, the world's 1st ever May Day march left from here. The Green was described by poet Sir John Betjeman as "a remarkable haven of peace amid the roar of public transport and heavy lorries".
Abandoned Victorian public conveniences in Clerkenwell
Clerkenwell Green, E2
Derelict underground toilets in Clerkenwell
Clerkenwell Green, E2


Here is a selection of toilets across the capital (click to enlarge):

Not only did public toilets prevent the incidences of people using shop doorways as toilets, they did provide an opportunity for gay men to find others like themselves long before gay bars.
Brixton closed down public toilets
Derelict public toilets in Ladywell, London
Closed down WC in a park in Carshalton
Derelict and fire damaged  London toilets in a South London park
closed down and derelict concrete public toilet block in London
urinals in part demolished Gents toilet in South London
Now demolished public toilet in Brockwell Park, Herne Hill, London.
Closed down toilet in Hounslow, West London
Burnt out public toilet after a fire in South London
toilet cottage in a South London park
Overgrown derelict public toilet in London
Derelict London toilet in North Woolwich as seen on the Derelict London alldayer around Woolwich in London Borough of Newham
Putney Bridge derelict toilets
Market workers public toilets by Smithfield meat market
Falling roof tiles on public toilet in South London
broken glass of smashed window in public London toilets
Derelict public toilet in North Woolwich E16
Disused urinal in derelict public toilets in North Woolwich, London Borough of Newham, E16

​Shepherds Bush W12


In 1962 actor Wilfrid Brambell (Albert Steptoe) was nicked for soliciting here and received a 25 guinea fine.  These toilets have now been demolished.

Craig writes: "Many years ago I went into the toilets in the early 1980s not long before they were closed for good.It was so dark because the windows were tiny and had overgrown with vegetation. You couldn't see your hand in front of your face, it was that gloomy. Gingerly walking forward hoping to find a urinal to pee, my eyes began to adjust, and I realised that there must have been at least 10 men in there in various groups and positions! Nobody stopped, they just carried on."
Derelict toilets at Shepherds Bush Green
Shepherds Bush W12
Abandoned toilets in Shepherds Bush. The decline of the public convenience
Shepherds Bush W12

BARNES 


​Chris writes: "Brought back memories seeing this -I once rode over it very worriedly as an eleven-year-old or so, having just slammed my pubescent wedding tackle into the handlebar stem on my bicycle while riding on Barnes Common. I was pretty certain I was going to find various bits of my anatomy cut off before their prime! Happy to say everything was intact! – Well at least as intact as before :=))"
Disused public toilets near Barnes Common, SW13 London
Barnes SW13

Here is another gallery with  selection of toilets from  across the capital (click to enlarge)

abandoned public toilet in Central London
Bloomsbury subterranean derelict toilet
graffiti covered toilet in London
disused closed down public toilet in South London
Abandoned toilets in a London park
Closed public toilet in Wembley
shit covered public toilet in London
vandals smash up and destroy toilet in London
East London closed down public convenience
Ladies Toilet sign at public toilet cottage in London
Portobello Rd closed down underground public toilet in West London
derelict pubic convenience in Bromley South London
Boarded up public toilets in South London
Charlton Maryon Wilson Park disused public toilets
Charlton Maryon Wilson Park decaying public toilet cottage
closed public toilets in Clitterhouse Recreation Ground (near old Hendon FC ground)
Eltham boarded up public toilets
Disused underground WC in Holborn, London
stairs to Victorian underground toilet in Central Londn
closed public toilet on Farringdon Street
Derelict public conveniences in Archway, North London
Subterranean public toilet in Archway N19
Litter inside disused and derelict public toilet in Archway,  North London
Interior of closed down public toilets in Avery Hill Park, Eltham SE9
public toilets in Avery Hill Park, Eltham SE9
Derelict public toilets near Bruce Castle Museum London N17
Grade 2 listed disused and derelict public toilets in Bruce Grove, Tottenham, N17
picture of closed down public toilets in Cobb Street, E1
derelict public toilet Edgware HA7
Closed down public disabled toilet Edgware HA7
Closed down toilet in London Borough of Barnet
Closed down Barnet toilet in Edgware HA7
SE9 Eltham disused public toilets by St Johns Church on Well Hall Road
Eltham derelict public toilets by St Johns Church
Headstone Manor toilets, Headstone Recreation Ground, Pinner View, Harrow, HA2
Derelict underground public toilet in Bloomsbury WC1N
derelict public toilets on Shooters Hill Rd, Woolwich SE18
Inside closed down toilets in Woolwich SE18
abandoned dirty sink in public toilets on Shooters Hill Rd, London, SE18
Ladies toilet sign in disused block in SE London
Overgrown derelcit toilets in Woolwich SE18
Derelict toilet cottage in Stanmore Common HA7
Stanmore Common HA7 derelict ruins of public toilets
Derelcit underground public toilet on Kentish Town Rd, NW1
Derelict beauty salon at disused public toilet in Kentish Town, NW1
closed down public toilet for sale on Beaulieu Heights South Norwood SE25
Derelict public toilets for sale between Crystal Palace and South Norwood in SE London
Boarded up closed down public toilets Tottenham High Road N17

wrecked toilet in Kensington
Kensington
It was so dark because the windows were tiny and had overgrown with vegetation. You couldn't see your hand in front of your face, it was that gloomy.
Kensington
abandoned toilet in Kensington
Kensington
smashed up toilet facilities in Edgware
Edgware
Vandalised toilet cubicle in Feltham
Feltham

Picture of porcelain toilet toilet pan flytipped on the pavement in South London
Camberwell
A few random bog shots of white porcelain toilet pans in unexpected places:

Back from the Brink - From Derelict Public Toilets to Conversion:  


These public toilets occupy prime sites in London and councils have realised that they are sitting on a valuable asset so to speak. Many former toilets around London have now been sold off or leased  to private businesses and converted into and bars, galleries, beauty salons and even residential use. ​Some call it a fine example of urban regeneration. But others fear Britain's public toilets are an endangered species. Below is a small selection, but no means comprehensive guide to converted toilets in London.
To Let. TOiLET. public toilets occupy prime sites in London and councils have realised that they are sitting on a valuable assets
This ex public toilet has since been converted into the Bermondsey Arts Cocktail Club
Derelict subterranean public toilets in SE London
Bermondsey Arts prior to conversion
Picture
Former WC on Tower Bridge Road, SE1
Derelict lost London public conveniences
Underground derelict public toilet
Derelict underground public toilet in Bermondsey, London Borough of Southwark is now a bar
Opened 1902. Closed circa 2004

Bermondsey Arts Cocktail Club - Tower Bridge Road, SE1


Much to the amusement of the regulars of old school boozer at The George  just up the road this disused public convenience that opened in 1902 has been converted into a hip cocktail bar complete with some original tiling. From the early 1900s there were 23 underground public toilets in what is now the London Borough of  Southwark. This one on the junction of Grange Rd and Tower Bridge Road was the last one to close down (in around 2004). All the others in the Borough appear to have been filled in and sealed over. Meanwhile, over in Lambeth the derelict public toilets by Clapham Common station have been converted into the WC Bar,  a Wine & Charcuterie serving cocktails and meat and cheese boards.
Bermondsey Arts Cocktail Club, a disused public convenience in Bermondsey has been converted into a hip cocktail bar complete with original tiling
Bermondsey Arts Cocktail Club
Picture
Bermondsey Arts Cocktail Club

Restaurant Story - Tooley Street, SE1


This closed down public toilet was actually demolished after these photographs were taken in 2011. Restaurant Story, a  Michelin star winning establishment now occupies a newly built pavilion on the site at the  intersection of Tooley Street and Queen Elizabeth Street. 
Disused public toilet to let in Bermondsey now demolished and replaced by award winning restaurant
Tooley Street, SE1
Restaurant Story, a  Michelin star winning establishment now occupies a newly built pavilion on the site of former public toilets at the  intersection of Tooley Street and Queen Elizabeth Street.
Tooley Street, SE1

Meanwhile another lease of life to disused public toilets in Spitalfields, E1


These toilets in front of Christ Church in Commercial Street, Spitalfields were originally converted into the Public Life nightclub but had its licence revoked by the council after a police raid by 50 officers in 2011 closed the club after conducting a search of the premises that resulted in 13 arrests. They also found that the club was holding more people than legally permitted. The building was originally a public toilet and is only licensed to hold 60 people, including staff. Must have been a bit tight in there during the raid!

Now Public Life is a second hand clothes shop. As with many second hand shops in this part of the town it's billed as "Vintage" 
Picture of former public toilet in Spitalfields. Once Public Life nightclub and now a vintage clothes shop
Spitalfields E1
Picture of vintage clothes shop in disused underground public toilet in Spitalfields
Disused toilets now a secondhand shop

Public Toilets converted into residential use - Crystal Palace SE19

​These toilets in Crystal Palace  photographed in the first edition have now been converted into residential accommodation after an architect bought the lease from the Council and spent £65,000 on renovating them.
Picture
Derelict Public Toilets circa 2004 - Crystal Palace SE19
Picture
Public Toilets now residential - Crystal Palace SE19

Under renovation (but not as toilets) in Clapton Common:

Mock Tudor (disused and decaying) public toilet at Clapton Common
Mock Tudor (disused) public toilet at Clapton Common
overgrown abandoned public lavatory in Clapton
This is currently being renovated by Clapton Commons Community Organisation (CCCO)



​And finally.... lads must always remember that urinals are not for throwing up in!!!   Thank you. 

This sign was displayed in the Rose and Crown in Wandsworth. A good old boozer though often the scene of the odd punch up on a Saturday night - I should know because I was there..... I think it's now called L'Affaire - a modern French dining experience, but I bet this sign is long gone or replaced by something like 'bidets are not for throwing up in. Merci'
urinals are not for throwing up in!!! Wandsworth pub toiletWandsworth

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