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| Of course, bathrooms are not only for bathing, toilets are a huge part of the modern bathroom. At MBD Bathrooms we carry a huge range of beautiful and practical toilets, but if you look back in time, you can see that just like baths, the humble toilet has a long and interesting history. |
Ever since the beginning of mankind, there has been a need for some form of waste disposal. Prior to the introduction of modern flush toilets, most human waste disposal took place outdoors. However, civilisations from as early as the third millennium B.C. were using sewers and toilets of a relatively modern nature, and Mohenjo-Daro circa 2800 B.C. had some of the most advanced, with toilets integrated into the outer walls of houses. However, lavatories such as these would have been the privilege of only the very affluent, with the lower classes having to make do with a pot or a hole in the ground.
The Ancient Romans were very aware of the need for a sewage system and they built an impressive system of sewers. They constructed simple outhouses or latrines directly over the running waters of the sewers which would then drain directly into the nearest river or stream. These sewers were comprised of large clay pipes that carried the waste away from the towns, to a safer distance where the germs and odour would not affect the community so much as earlier times when waste was simply thrown into the street.
Although supported by a relatively sophisticated sewage system, Roman toilets themselves were fairly basic. Mostly, they consisted of a long wooden bench with holes in it, which was shared by the community. In addition, toilets were often part of Roman public bath houses. |
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Today, we are lucky to have an efficient system of sewers complemented by comfortable and effective flushing toilets to dispose of all our waste. However, the flushing toilet has been around in some form for a lot longer than people may first think. In the late 1500s, a primitive form of the flushable toilet was designed by Queen Elizabeth I’s godson, John Harington – although it was not accepted for mass use and as such was purely a novelty. It wasn’t until the late nineteenth century, after being worked on by several inventors, that the design for the flushing toilet was perfected, enabling newly-built houses to enjoy an integral toilet.
However, this was no easy road, and it certainly did not happen overnight. Many great inventors played a role in the final design of the flushing toilet as we know it today, and they were faced with many problems along the way. The Victorians knew that there was a correlation between unsanitary conditions and disease, and so developed comprehensive municipal sewer systems in an attempt to tackle the problem and keep urban areas cleaner. However, with this came a dilemma – how to ensure poisonous gases from the sewer didn’t come up and infect the air inside the house. The famous inventor who is usually credited with inventing the toilet, Thomas Crapper, designed a valve-andsiphon toilet that helped the evolution of the flushing toilet enormously. This was patented in 1891, and his company went on to manufacture many of these toilets which were used all over the UK. They were emblazoned with the words ‘T. Crapper Brass & Co., Ltd’ which is said to have stuck in the minds of American soldiers during the First World War, resulting in a new nickname for the toilet.
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Although Thomas Crapper is probably the most famous inventor linked with the birth of the modern flushing toilet, several others had a big hand in its development also. In 1885, Thomas Twyford built the first vitreous-china toilet, followed by other pottery companies such as Wedgwood and Doulton. Soon, vitreous china was the standard material used for toilets everywhere. English inventors were not alone in the struggle to perfect a sanitary water closet; American pioneers were on the case as well. In 1875, USA inventors James Henry and William Campbell submitted a patent for a water closet with a plunger design. During subsequent years, almost 400 designs were patented for a sanitary water closet, highlighting just how keen the world was for this technology to work and be efficient.
Once the design was finalised, people could have access to effective and sanitary waste disposal in their own homes. This was a major breakthrough and a huge milestone in the development of the bathroom as a whole.
Today, no house in the modern world is without a bathroom. Many have several bathrooms and some even have one for each bedroom in the house! There are many bathroom styles to choose from and many types of bath, shower, basin and toilet with which to create the perfect bathroom. Here at MBD Bathrooms we have a huge selection of bathroom products to suit all tastes, take a look and see for yourself!
It is no coincidence that the effort to create a sanitary and effective waste disposal system came into full force around the same time as urbanisation and the birth of industry. It was during this time (the 18th and 19th centuries) that people flocked to the cities for work. In rural areas, with smaller populations, the need for an indoor toilet was not so severe. However, in crowded cities, outdoor sanitary arrangements were not as practical, as in such densely populated areas, the spread of disease and germs was much more easily facilitated. That is why today, we should be extremely grateful that these inventors spent so much energy on perfecting our modern, flushing toilet. The alternative is unthinkable!
However, there is a big problem that has developed with the modern flush toilet – the amount of water it uses. The world is struggling to keep up with the demand for water in this way, and widespread water contamination is an unfortunate but widespread problem. Here at MBD Bathrooms, we supply several toilets that have water saving features, such as reduced capacity flushing options. Take a look and see how your choice of toilet can help save the planet.
During the relatively short lifetime of the toilet, it has attracted many different names. One of the most common names, and probably the most polite, is the lavatory. Thought to be derived from the Latin lavātōrium, which in turn comes from the Latin word lavō ("I wash"), this word is an acceptable way to refer to the most private seat in the house.
Other, less formal names for the toilet include loo, dunny, khazi and privy.
Thankfully, the bathroom is now beyond a simple room in which to carry out a function, today it can be a stylish focal point of the house – somewhere to relax and unwind, as well as refresh and rejuvenate!
Here at MBD Bathrooms there is an extensive range of toilets to choose from. With nearly 40 years of experience in supplying toilets of the highest quality, we are well-placed to help you choose the right toilet for your bathroom. |
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