The compleat loo: A lavatorial miscellany

An Elizabethan gentleman, Sir John Harington, is credited with inventing the first British water closet, an ingenious affair with sluice and bung, years ahead of its time. In earlier days, the Romans had drainage systems as efficient as any today but after them, the European loo languished for centuries. The privy and 'thunderbox' held sway until early Victorian engineers put the valve-closet on the map. The nineteenth century saw atonishing developments in lavatory technology with fine installations in steam ships and trains as well as magnificent examples in country houses, palaces and municipal conveniences. British Victorian loos are probably still the best that man has so far achieved in this field - although a modern Swiss design which blows hot air and water jets when required is rumoured to be sweeping the Continent and may come to be regarded as the greatest loo ever. The Compleat Loo is illustrated with a large number of remarkable pictures which trace the history from limestone seat to super-loo.