Sewer History: Photos and Graphics

Dark Ages to Industrial Age (300 CE - early 19th century)
(Click on thumbnails to enlarge image)

The Roman Empire fell in early CE along with the concepts of baths, basic sanitation, aqueducts, engineered water, and sewage systems. Sanitation reverted back to the basics (at best). A creed evolved that uncleanliness was next to godliness, and bathing/sanitation became quite uncommon, while homes, towns, and streams became filthy. Diseases were commonplace; epidemics decimated towns and villages. Twenty-five percent (or more) of the European population died of disease (cholera, plague, etc.). The major transmitter of the plague was rats (actually bacteria conveyed from rats to people via flea bites). The rat population thrived amongst the mess and stench commonplace in medieval times.

Recovery from the sanitation disaster of the Middle Ages did not really start until the nineteenth century.

See Tracking Down the Roots of Our Sanitary Sewers for more information.

For Reference	For extensive information about Victorian London, see the comprehensive website at www.victorianlondon.org. There is a large section about Sewers and Sanitation under "Health and Hygiene," and materials can be found under "Diseases" (cholera and typhus) and by searching "sewer". This website provides a graphic look, in the words and pictures of the time, into the horrible conditions that preceded modern sanitation. A huge thanks goes to Lee Jackson, the creator of the website, for this impressive collection of original materials.
For Reference	Water-related Infrastructure in Medieval London, WaterHistory.org
Illustrations
	Medieval illustration of a large stew, the communal bath which featured feasting and prostitution. Source: unknown.
	Medieval illustration of a bath and food board; Tristan, Paris, 1494-95. Source: unknown.
	Medieval illustration of the kitchen cat chasing rats. Source: unknown.
Toilets in the Middle Ages
	Medieval wooden toilet seat, Turku, Finland Source: Juuti Petri & Wallenius Katri, Brief History of Wells and Toilets (Tampere University Press, Finland, 2005). Thanks to Petri Juuti, Ph.D., University of Tampere, Finland.
	Indoor toilet in Hame Castle, Finland. Hame castle The only indoor toilet of the main castle still exists and is located near the clerk's office on the middle floor. Only a few privileged people had access to this indoor toilet with a wooden seat - such as the clerk, who was among the highest ranks in the castle. Source: Juuti Petri & Wallenius Katri, Brief History of Wells and Toilets (Tampere University Press, Finland, 2005). Thanks to Petri Juuti, Ph.D., University of Tampere, Finland.
	King's Privy, Turku Castle, Finland. From the 15"' century onwards there were three toilets: the privy in the gatekeeper's chamber (located in the corner of the gate tower), one in the prison, and the other was located in the north wing. These three were connected to the same toilet drainage system and formed an independent system. The king, other noble residents and high officials had their own privies. One is still left in the medieval great hall. These privies were usually constructed on top of the corbels or supportive beams, as sort of a bay toilet, being located partially outside the wall. However, in the Turku castle, most of these privies in the quarters of the aristocracy were built completely inside the walls. Source: Juuti Petri & Wallenius Katri, Brief History of Wells and Toilets (Tampere University Press, Finland, 2005). Thanks to Petri Juuti, Ph.D., University of Tampere, Finland.
	Prison privy, Turku Castle, Finland Source: Juuti Petri & Wallenius Katri, Brief History of Wells and Toilets (Tampere University Press, Finland, 2005). Thanks to Petri Juuti, Ph.D., University of Tampere, Finland.
	"Bay privies" at Olavinlinna Castle, Finland (two are visible). Olavinlinna castle with its five towers was built from the point of view of defense. The towers of the main castle were extended upward during the second main building era in the mid-16" century. These round artillery towers or rondels were occasionally used as living quarters for the aristocracy - and were even originally designed to do so." Attached to the walls are the "bay privies" made of stone. Originally there was only a "riuku" (the horizontal log) for seating, but later on proper wooden seats were built. At times, ventilation might have worked even too effectively. An old anecdote describes these privies as the first water toilets in Finland - bay privies were above the water and the height of the drop was great: the towers of the main castle were over 20 metres high. Three of these privies still remain. Walls and three-slope roofs were built of grey granite on supporting console beams. The choice of building materials has preserved these examples to our day, for usually they have been destroyed in fires - the frequent threat of castles. Source: Juuti Petri & Wallenius Katri, Brief History of Wells and Toilets (Tampere University Press, Finland, 2005). Thanks to Petri Juuti, Ph.D., University of Tampere, Finland.
	"Bay privies" at Olavinlinna Castle, Finland. Exterior view (left) and interior view (right). See information above. Source: Juuti Petri & Wallenius Katri, Brief History of Wells and Toilets (Tampere University Press, Finland, 2005). Thanks to Petri Juuti, Ph.D., University of Tampere, Finland.