What were toilets like in schools long ago?
Behind each school of the 19th Century there were 'dry toilets', which meant that they could not flush as they did not have running water. When somebody used the toilet then they would cover it with a layer of earth ashes. The earth and ashes helped to break down the waste but the toilets would also have to be cleaned out occasionally. Later versions of these toilets had a sort of chemical added.
There are not many remains left of these dry toilets
nowadays but sometimes you will see evidence of them in the ruins of old schools. We will now see some evidence of what sanitation was like in the mid 1800's and early 1900's by looking at what buildings can tell us.
Dry Toilet
This picture shows what was at one time the toilets of Letterfinish school seen earlier. There is not much remains of these outdoor toilets but we can see the stone base where the original timber seat of this dry toilet would have been. Because this toilet has not been used for about 70 years we can see that time has damaged or destroyed much of the evidence. Notice there was no flushing water.
Evidence of Sanitation
Out toilet
This outbuilding at Ruscossane National School, Templenoe, Kenmare is behind the original school. Toilets in the early schools were always separate from the main school. This small outhouse was probably an outdoor toilet used by the children. It is no longer used as a toilet but notice that it still has features which are probably original from the time of the first national schools in the 1800's. Look at the stone walls, the roof, the door, the doorway and the design. Notice the small window for ventilation.
Out toilet
Out toilet
This outbuilding at Ruscossane National School, Templenoe, Kenmare is behind the original school. Toilets in the early schools were always separate from the main school. This small outhouse was probably an outdoor toilet used by the children. It is no longer used as a toilet but notice that it still has features which are probably original from the time of the first national schools in the 1800's. Look at the stone walls, the roof, the door, the doorway and the design. Notice the small window for ventilation.
Examine this picture of this outbuilding. Can you see how some of the original features of this toilet area remain. Notice the small window which was to give light and ventilation. This building has now been converting to a shed by the present owner. There are two of them behind the school. One was probably for the girls and one for the boys.
School and Outbuildings from 1837
Schools in those days did not have toilets in the main building.
Courtesy of Claire Turvey.School and Outbuildings from 1837
Courtesy of Claire Turvey.
Courtesy of Claire Turvey.
School and Outbuildings from 1837
Schools in those days did not have toilets in the main building.
Courtesy of Claire Turvey.Look at this outbuilding which still remains from an 1837 school near Kenmare, which is known as the 'Landsdowne School'. It has this name because it was built on the Landsdowne Estate. The small outhouse with two doors was probably used as outdoor toilets, one for the boys and one for the girls.
Reconstructed toilet in Cultra Folk Park.
A photograph of a an outdoor toilet that has retained its original characteristics and been reconstructed.
Courtesy of Cultra Folk Park.Reconstructed toilet in Cultra Folk Park.
Courtesy of Cultra Folk Park.
Courtesy of Cultra Folk Park.
Reconstructed toilet in Cultra Folk Park.
A photograph of a an outdoor toilet that has retained its original characteristics and been reconstructed.
Courtesy of Cultra Folk Park.
We can see that this outdoor toilet is neat and tidy probably just like it was in the 1860's when Ballydown school was built.
Timber toilet
This is an example of what the timber toilet seat would have looked like. Notice that the toilet did not have a toilet bowl. Instead it had at timber seat. This toilet is not in good condition.
Timber toilet
Timber toilet
This is an example of what the timber toilet seat would have looked like. Notice that the toilet did not have a toilet bowl. Instead it had at timber seat. This toilet is not in good condition.
Many schools in country areas did not have toilets which flushed until the 1950's or 1960's. Instead a type of dry toilet was used which had to be cleaned out every so often or later chemicals were added to the toilet. The one that you see here is no longer in use.