Sanitation Collection

Patent drawing for Thomas Crappers sanitary innovation, the Water Waste Preventer, 1880s
WATER WASTE PREVENTER. Patent drawing for Thomas Crappers sanitary innovation, the Water Waste Preventer, 1880s

Edward Farmer and his gang going underground cleaning scraps of paper and anything likely to cause obstruction in the culvert under Ludgate Circus. April 1st 1947

Water Closet. From Sir John Harington " The Metamorphosis of Ajax", 1556. Harrington installed a water closet in his house near Bath in 1589

Sewer cleaners in the Main Sewer, Paris, 1931. Artist: Ernest Flammarion
Sewer cleaners in the Main Sewer, Paris, 1931. Illustration from the book Paris published by Ernest Flammarion, (1931)

David Boswell Reid, M.D, F.R.S.E Doctor and sanitation reformer from Edinburgh, responsible for the ventilation and lighting of the House of Commons in the 1840s

Sanitation in London
5307626 Sanitation in London.; (add.info.: Cartoon commenting on the concerns surrounding sanitation in London. Illustrated by Charles Keene (1823-1891) an English artist and illustrator

The Tyler & Sons WC with valve constructed as an overflow, 1850
3359507 The Tyler & Sons WC with valve constructed as an overflow, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting the Tyler & Sons WC with valve constructed as an overflow)

A water closet by Jennings of Lambeth, with valve and S-bend, 1850
3359501 A water closet by Jennings of Lambeth, with valve and S-bend, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a water closet by Jennings of Lambeth, with valve and S-bend)

Dolton's valve less flush-out water closet, 1850
3359500 Dolton's valve less flush-out water closet, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving of Dolton's valve less flush-out water closet. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

A water closet with wooden cabinet, 1850
3359498 A water closet with wooden cabinet, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a water closet with wooden cabinet and flushing mechanism, activated by closing the lid)

John Downe's water closet with automatic flush mechanism, 1850
3359496 John Downe's water closet with automatic flush mechanism, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting John Downe's water closet with automatic flush mechanism)

A 'washout' water closet, 1850
3359495 A 'washout' water closet, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a 'washout' water closet. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Women operating a spinning machine in a textile silk mill, 1843
3478862 Women operating a spinning machine in a textile silk mill, 1843; (add.info.: Women operating a spinning machine in a textile silk mill, Derby, England, 1843.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

WC with syphon flushing cistern, 1850
3359513 WC with syphon flushing cistern, 1850; (add.info.: WC with syphon flushing cistern. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Workmen in the main Paris sewer, 1850
3359141 Workmen in the main Paris sewer, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting workmen in the main Paris sewer. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

The Deeping of the Fleet Street sewer, 1850
3359138 The Deeping of the Fleet Street sewer, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting the Deeping of the Fleet Street sewer near Temple Street. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

A swinging urinal on a vertical hinge from the Practical Dictionary of Mechanics, 1850
3359504 A swinging urinal on a vertical hinge from the Practical Dictionary of Mechanics, 1850; (add.info.: Design for a swinging urinal on a vertical hinge from the Practical Dictionary of Mechanics)

Dolton's valve less flush-out water closet, 1850
3359502 Dolton's valve less flush-out water closet, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving of Dolton's valve less flush-out water closet. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

A party of visitors being shown the main collecting sewer under parts, 1850
3359133 A party of visitors being shown the main collecting sewer under parts, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a party of visitors being shown the main collecting sewer under parts)

An earth closet by Kings, 1850
3359121 An earth closet by Kings, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting an earth closet by Kings, which automatically discharged earth into the bucket when the lid is closed)

Moser's earth closet, 1850
3359120 Moser's earth closet, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving of Moser's earth closet which when the seat was closed discharged earth or ash into the bucket)

Women making up sewing thread onto bobbins in a textile silk mill, 1843
3478861 Women making up sewing thread onto bobbins in a textile silk mill, 1843; (add.info.: Women making up sewing thread onto bobbins in a textile silk mill, Derby, England)

Engraving of a Dumping Barge, 1887 (engraving)
1574573 Engraving of a Dumping Barge, 1887 (engraving); (add.info.: Dumping barge, introduced into Britain from New York. Refuse to be discharged was contained in two hinged compartments which could)

The Optimus pedestal WC with small lead-lined wooden cistern, 1850
3359514 The Optimus pedestal WC with small lead-lined wooden cistern, 1850; (add.info.: The Optimus pedestal WC with small lead-lined wooden cistern)

Lavatory with WC, urinal and wash basin, 1850
3359511 Lavatory with WC, urinal and wash basin, 1850; (add.info.: Lavatory with WC, urinal and wash basin. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Pedestal WC with siphon flushing system, 1850
3359510 Pedestal WC with siphon flushing system, 1850; (add.info.: Pedestal WC with siphon flushing system. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

A portable water closet from the Practical Dictionary of Mechanics, 1850
3359505 A portable water closet from the Practical Dictionary of Mechanics, 1850; (add.info.: Design for a portable water closet from the Practical Dictionary of Mechanics by Edward H)

Kirkwood's water closet, 1850
3359497 Kirkwood's water closet, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving of Kirkwood's water closet. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

The Optimus pedestal WC with small lead-lined wooden cistern, 1850
3359494 The Optimus pedestal WC with small lead-lined wooden cistern, 1850; (add.info.: The Optimus pedestal WC with small lead-lined wooden cistern)

The Deeping of the Fleet Street sewer, 1850
3359139 The Deeping of the Fleet Street sewer, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting the Deeping of the Fleet Street sewer. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

The Deeping of the Fleet Street sewer, 1850
3359130 The Deeping of the Fleet Street sewer, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting the Deeping of the Fleet Street sewer near Temple Street. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Pivoted closet seat by Edwin R. Parkes of Copper Falls Mine, 1850
3359123 Pivoted closet seat by Edwin R. Parkes of Copper Falls Mine, 1850; (add.info.: Pivoted closet seat by Edwin R. Parkes of Copper Falls Mine. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Women making up sewing thread into balls, 1845
3478860 Women making up sewing thread into balls, 1845; (add.info.: Women making up sewing thread into balls, London, circa 1845.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Textile mill; girls on their way home after work, 1850
3478859 Textile mill; girls on their way home after work, 1850; (add.info.: Leeds, England, 19th century textile mill; girls on their way home after work.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

John Sutherland (left) and Robert Rawlinson
865049 John Sutherland (left) and Robert Rawlinson; (add.info.: In the Crimea'. John Sutherland (1808-1891) British physician and sanitary reformer, left

Article explaining where Londoners' get their water from, 19th century
5308819 Article explaining where Londoners' get their water from, 19th century; (add.info.: Article explaining where Londoners' get their water)

Punch commenting on the unhealthy state of London's sanitation, 19th century
5308797 Punch commenting on the unhealthy state of London's sanitation, 19th century; (add.info.: Punch commenting on the unhealthy state of London's sanitation)

Vortex flushing pedestal WC with diphon tank above, 1850
3359509 Vortex flushing pedestal WC with diphon tank above, 1850; (add.info.: Vortex flushing pedestal WC with diphon tank above. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Bostel's valve less flush out water closet, 1850
3359506 Bostel's valve less flush out water closet, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving of Bostel's valve less flush out water closet. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

A Penstock Chamber used to regulate the flow in London sewers, 1850
3359134 A Penstock Chamber used to regulate the flow in London sewers, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving of a Penstock Chamber used to regulate the flow in London sewers)

The workings of a toilet, 1850
3359122 The workings of a toilet, 1850; (add.info.: Cutaway diagram showing the workings of a toilet. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Women operating a spinning machine to reel silk in a textile silk mill, 1843
3478863 Women operating a spinning machine to reel silk in a textile silk mill, 1843; (add.info.: Women operating a spinning machine to reel silk in a textile silk mill, Derby, England)

Brooklyn Sanitary Fair
2909880 Brooklyn Sanitary Fair; (add.info.: Brooklyn Sanitary Fair, 1864. 1864); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Earth closet
5308118 Earth closet.; (add.info.: Earth closet by Kings which automatically discharged earth into the bucket when the lid was closed. From Eardley F. Bailey-Denton A Hand Book of House Sanitation)

Cartoon depicting a refuse collector calling for rubbish as he passes through a street in London. 1850 (engraving)
5669483 Cartoon depicting a refuse collector calling for rubbish as he passes through a street in London. 1850 (engraving); Universal History Archive/UIG.

A Snake in the Sewers, 1850
3359124 A Snake in the Sewers, 1850; (add.info.: Cartoon titled 'A Snake in the Sewers'. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

An earth closet, 1850
3359119 An earth closet, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving of an earth closet, a basic type of toilet with dry earth used to cover excrement. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

A tier pedestal WC's with trap ventilation and soil pipe, 1850
3359508 A tier pedestal WC's with trap ventilation and soil pipe, 1850; (add.info.: Sectional view of a tier pedestal WC's with trap ventilation and soil pipe)

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"From Waiting for the Hour to Modern Innovations: A Journey through Sanitation History" Step back in time to 1863, where an unknown creator and William Tolman Carlton captured Edward Farmer and his gang diligently going underground, cleaning scraps of paper. This glimpse into the past reminds us of the tireless efforts made towards sanitation. Fast forward to the 1880s, when Thomas Crapper's revolutionary invention, the Water Waste Preventer, was patented. This innovation marked a significant milestone in improving sanitary conditions and preventing waste buildup. In 1931 Paris, artist Ernest Flammarion immortalized sewer cleaners working tirelessly in the Main Sewer. Their dedication showcased their commitment to maintaining cleanliness even in challenging environments. Traveling further back in history reveals Sir John Harington's creation - the Water Closet. This remarkable invention brought comfort and improved hygiene standards for centuries to come. David Boswell Reid's contributions cannot be overlooked either. His expertise paved the way for advancements in sanitation systems that we benefit from today. The advert by Davis & Bennett showcasing heavy fireclay urinal stalls demonstrates how businesses have played a vital role in providing clean facilities for public use throughout history. A snapshot of early 20th-century Paris takes us to Vespasiennes or public urinals on Grands Boulevards. These structures served as essential amenities ensuring proper sanitation practices were accessible to all. Even aquatic life benefits from cleanliness. Actinopterygii fish species like bluestreak bony fish thrive when their habitats are properly cleaned and maintained across Asia. Moving closer to modern times brings us face-to-face with New Superloos installed on Hall Street, St Helens, Merseyside in February 1988. These state-of-the-art facilities represented progress towards more hygienic public toilets available for everyone's convenience. Finally, workmen inspecting underground sewer tunnels beneath Mersey tunnel remind us that behind every clean and functional system, there are dedicated individuals ensuring its smooth operation.