The history of toilet and how it became one of the most significant inventions of the last 1000 years
Here is 4,500 years of sanitation history across key milestones - from the ancient Indus Valley's surprisingly sophisticated flush toilets all the way through to today's health-monitoring smart toilets. This is the Tale of the Toilet.
The toilet. The most fundamental of all ceramics.
It has been described as
'one of the most important inventions of the last 1,000 years'
I didn’t say that, but none other than the London Times newspaper said that
in its millennium edition. It compared the invention of the toilet with, amongst others, the development of the Gutenberg printing press in the 1400s, the atomic bomb, and the moon landing of 1969.
Here’s another statement
'one of the most successful designs ever.
It doesn’t only improve lives, it saves them'
I didn’t say that, but none other than the Manchester Independent newspaper said that in a morning edition from some time ago.
And one more bold statement
'it has done more to improve the health of the people of the world
than any pills or potions'
I said that!
And it is true that the toilet is an important invention - all plumbing professionals know that. But in the whole history of mankind it is relatively recent as we had to wait till the great entrepreneurs of Victorian times for it to be developed into what we know and love today.
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| The evolution of the toilet. Special thanks go to the Twyfords Design Team for the concept and the drawing of the evolution right through to the Twyford VIP Smart WC. Date: 2001 |
ANCIENT WORLD
Primitive Sanitation
Early primitives were, of course, the first sanitarians. They knew the rules – and learned them the hard way.
Early primitives were, of course, the first sanitarians. They knew the rules – and learned them the hard way.
They knew that they must keep their sewage away from their cooking. They knew that they had to keep their kitchen upstream and their toilet downstream. If they reversed this layout there would be trouble - terrible consequences. Death would follow. It is this fundamental principle that we work with today. The toilet is a part of the important process of separating excreta from drinking water.
c.2500 BC - The World's First Toilets
The Indus Valley Civilization (modern-day Pakistan & India) built flush toilets connected to sophisticated brick-lined sewers - among the first known sanitation systems in human history.
Mohenjo-daro had some of the most advanced toilets and sewers of the ancient world, with toilets built into the outer walls of houses. These were toilets made from bricks, with wooden seats on top, and vertical chutes through which waste fell into street drains or cesspits which would be periodically emptied, possibly to be used as fertiliser.
This sophistication didn't last. The architects of the Indus Valley were well versed in sanitary engineering science, which disappeared with the decline of the civilisation, thereby leading to the practice of open defecation in the centuries that followed. It would take thousands of years before sanitation reached a comparable standard again.
c.1700 BC - Minoan Palace Plumbing
The Palace of Knossos on Crete features a toilet flushed with water poured from a jug, along with a complex system of terracotta pipes for drainage - astonishing for the era.
The Palace of Knossos on Crete features a toilet flushed with water poured from a jug, along with a complex system of terracotta pipes for drainage - astonishing for the era.
The Palace of Knossos was a vast, multi-storey structure at the heart of Minoan civilisation on Crete. Its reconstructed red columns and vivid frescoes give a sense of just how sophisticated and colourful this ancient world was. The Minoans demonstrated expertise in architecture, urban planning and plumbing.
One of the most interesting rooms in the ground-floor residential quarter of the Palace a toilet with a wooden seat and a small flushing conduit. Remains of a clay tube were found just outside the door of the room - apparently, water was poured through a hole to flush waste away. The toilet in the residential quarter of the Palace of Minos in Knossos is probably the earliest flushing toilet in the Mediterranean region identified to date. Knossos boasted a flushing system remarkably similar to modern counterparts. Terracotta cisterns perched above raised toilet seats held fresh water, which could be released via levers to cleanse the waste, washing it away through the intricate pipe network.
c.100 BC - Roman Latrines
The Romans were excellent sanitarians. They regarded ablutions as extremely important and built elaborate latrines in their towns and forts. Evidence remains of bath houses and toilet blocks. Here communal latrines had been built. Users sat on marble slabs. Each slab, with its hole, was supported above gushing water to take away excreta. Fresh water channels in front of the slabs allowed users to wash themselves using a natural sponge tied to the end of a twig or stick.
The Romans were excellent sanitarians. They regarded ablutions as extremely important and built elaborate latrines in their towns and forts. Evidence remains of bath houses and toilet blocks. Here communal latrines had been built. Users sat on marble slabs. Each slab, with its hole, was supported above gushing water to take away excreta. Fresh water channels in front of the slabs allowed users to wash themselves using a natural sponge tied to the end of a twig or stick.
Of course, the invention of toilet tissue was years ahead and was not available to the Romans, so sponge sticks were an excellent way of cleaning. But I do suspect that they were the origin of the phrase 'the wrong end of the stick'!
The Romans left Britain in 410 AD and their civilisation and legacy of sanitary science went with them. Their heritage disappeared and we plunged into the Dark Ages. A thousand years unwashed.
MEDIEVAL & RENAISSANCE
c.1000s - The Garderobe
Medieval castles and grand houses feature the 'garderobe' - a small alcove with a hole dropping into the moat or a cesspit below. Clothes were often hung here, as the ammonia smell was believed to repel moths.
Medieval castles and grand houses feature the 'garderobe' - a small alcove with a hole dropping into the moat or a cesspit below. Clothes were often hung here, as the ammonia smell was believed to repel moths.
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| Interior of late 13thC garderobe Chirk Castle, Wales Photo: Source unknown |
1400s–1600s - The Royal Close Stool
European royalty used padded, velvet-lined 'close stools' - ornate boxes with chamber pots hidden inside. Attendance at the royal toilet became a coveted court privilege; the 'Groom of the Stool' was a prestigious office to hold.
European royalty used padded, velvet-lined 'close stools' - ornate boxes with chamber pots hidden inside. Attendance at the royal toilet became a coveted court privilege; the 'Groom of the Stool' was a prestigious office to hold.
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| Close Stool Photo: Source unknown |
THE AGE OF INVENTION
1596 - Harington's Water Closet
Sir John Harington, 'Father of the Water Closet' and eccentric Godson of Queen Elizabeth 1st invented a flushing toilet and described the details in his book 'Metamorphosis of Ajax'. (Ajax is a corruption of 'A Jakes' which was the term used to describe a 'privy').
Sir John Harington, 'Father of the Water Closet' and eccentric Godson of Queen Elizabeth 1st invented a flushing toilet and described the details in his book 'Metamorphosis of Ajax'. (Ajax is a corruption of 'A Jakes' which was the term used to describe a 'privy').
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| Sir John Harington |
The WC was essentially a 'Valve Closet' and one was installed for use by the Queen at Richmond Palace. (It was the Queen, remember, who took a bath once a month whether she needed one or not!)
Water, 'but not a whole Thames-full', was used to wash the toilet chamber. Unfortunately the toilet did not catch on - perhaps it was too complicated and expensive for its time. Later Royals, James 1st, Charles 1st and 2nd and James 2nd all preferred 'Royal Close Stools' (see above) or chamber pots which, of course, required emptying - perhaps into the local river or moat.
Only three of the Harington Water Closet were ever made. One for Queen Elizabeth 1st as mentioned above. The second was Harington's own in Kelston Manor, Bath, Somerset. The third is at Gladstone Pottery Museum in Stoke-on-Trent. It's a reproduction, of course, but it's on display for all to see.
Harington was almost two hundred years ahead of his time.
1775 - Cumming's first notable development of the Flushing Toilet
Scottish watchmaker Alexander Cumming patented the first true flush toilet with a sliding valve at the bottom of the bowl. This followed several attempts during the early 1700’s to improve the closet. Cummings’ design was notable for its 'S-trap' feature and used swirling water to cleanse the toilet bowl. Crucially, he added an S-shaped pipe that holds water to block sewer gases - the origin of the modern U-bend.
Scottish watchmaker Alexander Cumming patented the first true flush toilet with a sliding valve at the bottom of the bowl. This followed several attempts during the early 1700’s to improve the closet. Cummings’ design was notable for its 'S-trap' feature and used swirling water to cleanse the toilet bowl. Crucially, he added an S-shaped pipe that holds water to block sewer gases - the origin of the modern U-bend.
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| Cummings Sliding Valve Closet 1775 |
1778 - Bramah's Improved Design
Joseph Bramah, a locksmith, took Cummings patent and improved it further and perfected a design which became the benchmark for WC’s for the next 80 to 100 years. 'A most satisfactory water closet'. The Bramah patent gave an improved water closet with a hinged valve at the bottom of the bowl, which becomes the standard across England.
Joseph Bramah, a locksmith, took Cummings patent and improved it further and perfected a design which became the benchmark for WC’s for the next 80 to 100 years. 'A most satisfactory water closet'. The Bramah patent gave an improved water closet with a hinged valve at the bottom of the bowl, which becomes the standard across England.
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| Bramah Valve Closet 1778 |
Bramah’s products were 'quality' pieces and his name gave us the slang meaning 'first rate' or 'a good one'! 'What a Bramah!'
6000 Bramahs had been manufactured by 1797 - a genuine commercial success. Even so the closet was complex and expensive and not very hygienic.
1815 - John Doulton invests in Lambeth Pottery
John Doulton invests his life savings of £100 in a small pottery in Lambeth, London. John goes into partnership with John Watts and Martha Jones making domestic wares
1827 - John Doulton commenced production of stoneware sewer pipes.
The first production of ceramic pipes began at Doulton’s Lambeth factory together with stoneware jars.
THE VICTORIAN REVOLUTION
Mid 1800s.
Big things start happening in toilets! And thank goodness it did.
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1851 - The Crystal Palace Toilets
Public flushing toilets were displayed at the Great Exhibition in London's Crystal Palace. Over 800,000 visitors paid a penny to use them - giving rise to that thoroughly British phrase 'to spend a penny.' George Jennings, their designer, campaigned passionately for public sanitation. Jennings continued the development of the WC and his patent described a 'wash-out' design of toilet bowl.
Public flushing toilets were displayed at the Great Exhibition in London's Crystal Palace. Over 800,000 visitors paid a penny to use them - giving rise to that thoroughly British phrase 'to spend a penny.' George Jennings, their designer, campaigned passionately for public sanitation. Jennings continued the development of the WC and his patent described a 'wash-out' design of toilet bowl.
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| Great Exhibition 1851 The Crystal Palace, London |
1858 - The Great Stink of London
A sweltering summer caused the Thames - which by then was effectively London's open sewer - to emit an overwhelming stench. Parliament itself was suspended and driven from its chambers. 'Something has to be done!' was the cry! Similar problems were found throughout the country and cities grew. The River Cam in Cambridge was an open sewer. The crisis triggered massive investment in public sewerage.
A sweltering summer caused the Thames - which by then was effectively London's open sewer - to emit an overwhelming stench. Parliament itself was suspended and driven from its chambers. 'Something has to be done!' was the cry! Similar problems were found throughout the country and cities grew. The River Cam in Cambridge was an open sewer. The crisis triggered massive investment in public sewerage.
1859 till 1865 Building of London Sewer System
Sir Joseph Bazalgette was the engineer engaged to transform urban sanitation. Doulton salt-glazed pipes were used.
Sir Joseph Bazalgette was the engineer engaged to transform urban sanitation. Doulton salt-glazed pipes were used.
1861 Thomas Crapper sets up plumbing business
Thomas Crapper, born a Yorkshire man, sets up his plumbing business in Chelsea, London, at just the right time to take advantage of the forthcoming boom in interest in public health and in particular sewage.
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| Crapper's Showroom, Chelsea |
1863 Crapper invents Self Rising Seat
Thomas Crapper had an inventive mind and devised a contraption for use with WC’s - the self rising seat. The idea proved unsuccessful - it could slap the unsuspecting on the bottom!
1872 Metropolis Water Act
The Act required Water Saving Measures to prevent the shocking waste of water throughout London. WCs at this time were fed water using valves. These were notoriously leaky and in some circumstance users would prop the open permanently to ensure their WC’s remained sweet.
1872 Invention of 'Valveless Waste Water Preventer'
1875 Public Health Act
From the Disraeli government, this act required that ”Every local authority shall provide that all drains, water closets, earth closets, privies, ash pits, and cell pools within their district be constructed and kept so as not to be a nuisance or injurious to health”.
1883 - The Washout WC
Thomas William Twyford introduced the all-ceramic, free-standing, one-piece, washout, pedestal closet with integral trap.
The UNITAS. The Monument to Excrement
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| 1883 Twyfords UNITAS WC The first one-piece ceramic pedestal closet photo: March 2004 |
Thomas William Twyford designed the first one piece closet which was a vast improvement on previous designs. It was hygienic and cheap. It was free standing and the entire appliance was fully exposed. 'No filth, nor anything causing offensive smells could accumulate or escape detection'.
It was a “Perfection of Cleanliness”. The toilet also featured a remarkable wooden seat which was hinged so that it could be raised to allow the use of the toilet by gentlemen as a urinal. Vast quantities were manufactured and exported. Installations were made in Buckingham palace.
The WC pan was made from one piece of pottery without the need for a surrounding wooden cabinet. The UNITAS was exported throughout the world.
Its elegant, hygienic, all pottery design with no metal parts or wooden enclosure becomes the blueprint for the modern toilet. Mass production makes it affordable to the middle class.1884 International Health Exhibition
Twyfords “Unitas” featured and becomes a “star” product together with the “India Rubber connection”. Henry Doulton wins 21 medals for his exhibition.
Twyfords “Unitas” featured and becomes a “star” product together with the “India Rubber connection”. Henry Doulton wins 21 medals for his exhibition.
1887 Building of Twyford’s “model” factory at Cliffe Vale, Stoke
The factory was designed around a courtyard so that “every worker could have a window”. Twyfords Hanley and Bucknall factories moved to Cliffe Vale.
The factory was designed around a courtyard so that “every worker could have a window”. Twyfords Hanley and Bucknall factories moved to Cliffe Vale.
THE 'MODERN' ERA
1891 - Toilet Paper on a Roll
Seth Wheeler patents perforated toilet paper on a roll - and crucially, specifies in the patent diagram that the paper should hang 'over' the top. The over-vs-under debate officially begins. Sears' catalogues previously served a popular dual purpose.
Seth Wheeler patents perforated toilet paper on a roll - and crucially, specifies in the patent diagram that the paper should hang 'over' the top. The over-vs-under debate officially begins. Sears' catalogues previously served a popular dual purpose.
1924 Production of sanitaryware still in Earthenware body
Sanitaryware was still either in the earthenware body or in fireclay. Earthenware was twice fired (just like tableware) in "bottle ovens" and this was an eight day process for first fire and 6 days for second (or glost ) fire.
Sanitaryware was still either in the earthenware body or in fireclay. Earthenware was twice fired (just like tableware) in "bottle ovens" and this was an eight day process for first fire and 6 days for second (or glost ) fire.
1930 Twyfords Double Trap Syphonic WC
1959 - 1963 Twyford's manufacturing innovations and improvements
The change from Earthenware to Vitreous China body
Mechanical casting and tunnel ovens made their appearance.
1969 - Space-Age Waste Management
NASA engineers devise a suction-based waste collection system for the Apollo missions. Astronauts use plastic bags with adhesive rims. Waste management in space remains notoriously difficult, requiring complex vacuum toilet technology on the International Space Station.
NASA engineers devise a suction-based waste collection system for the Apollo missions. Astronauts use plastic bags with adhesive rims. Waste management in space remains notoriously difficult, requiring complex vacuum toilet technology on the International Space Station.
1980 - The Japanese Washlet
TOTO launched the 'Washlet' - a toilet with a built-in bidet, heated seat, and deodorizer. Japan's high-tech toilet culture explodes; within decades, smart toilets with sensors, music, automatic lids, and health-monitoring features become commonplace in Japanese homes- over 80% have this type of toilet.
TOTO launched the 'Washlet' - a toilet with a built-in bidet, heated seat, and deodorizer. Japan's high-tech toilet culture explodes; within decades, smart toilets with sensors, music, automatic lids, and health-monitoring features become commonplace in Japanese homes- over 80% have this type of toilet.
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| Toto 'Washlet' introduced in 1980 |
2001 - Twyfords VIP
The Versatile.Interactive.Pan.
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| Twyford's VIP The Versatile Interactive Pan Concept and design by the Twyford's Design Team of Simon Hopps, Scott Derbyshire and Ian Randle Date: 2001 |
Its versatility comes from the fact that the china toilet bowl which, being mounted on a mechanism, can be made to rise or fall to a position which suits the preference of the user. No longer is the user committed to using a toilet at a height that was laid down 150 years ago. With the VIP, the user chooses!
The bowl may be at low level for a child. Or with its seat moved automatically away, it can be used in squatting mode. It may be at 'normal' height for most people and even then may be adjusted millimetre by millimetre to suit a 'vertically challenged' person.
Then at the push of a button, it may be used at the 'Lady P' height. Or for gentlemen, at gentleman’s urinal height. And at this height, it may double up as a convenient sick bowl!
So the push button control allows the user to adjust the height of the bowl. That’s the versatility of the machine! But the deluxe version of the VIP is even better with voice activation. Another few thousand dollars buys you a device that can recognise your voice and will adjust to your preferred height without the need to touch a grubby button on the wall.
The interactivity is, well, something else. This interactive marvel is connected to the Internet! Deep in the heart of the VIP is a medical sensor. Once you have made your liquid deposit, the machine will have a good look at it and instantly give you a printed analysis of your condition. If you were, say, diabetic, the machine would give you a reading of your blood sugar level. It might tell you if you were pregnant (if you were female - obviously). But more importantly, it would use the connection to the Internet to send the reading to your local clinic for its records. In this way the VIP is a true healthcare toilet. You have no need to visit your clinic. And the doctor or nurse doesn’t need to visit you. Think of the cost savings!
Alternatively, let’s imagine your VIP had analysed your more solid deposit. The VIP may decide that your metabolism is not quite in the state that it should be. It may decide that your bowels are not in tip-top condition. Perhaps not enough roughage. If this was the case it would immediately send an e-mail order to your local grocery store, which would quickly send a van to you loaded to the brim with red beans, kidney beans, baked beans, half baked beans, oats, muesli, bran flakes, corn flakes, almond flakes, fruit, coconuts, lentils, linseed, and noodles. Perhaps.
Will it ever catch on? Will it ever be manufactured?
Well no, it was never manufactured.
But a decade later.... something similar by somebody else was - see below in 2015.
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2007 – Toilet reinvented
Twyford's RIMFREE - the rimless WC pan. This 30 second advert video (from a Twyford's customer in Trinidad) sums it up.
Below is a more detailed 3 minute video from Twyford
2013 - UN World Toilet Day
The United Nations officially designates November 19th as World Toilet Day, recognising that 3.5 billion people still lack access to safe sanitation. The toilet is framed not as a luxury but as a fundamental human right and health necessity.
The United Nations officially designates November 19th as World Toilet Day, recognising that 3.5 billion people still lack access to safe sanitation. The toilet is framed not as a luxury but as a fundamental human right and health necessity.
2015 to today - The Smart & Self-Cleaning Toilet
Modern 'smart' toilets analyse urine for health biomarkers, auto-flush, self-clean with UV light or electrolysed water, and connect to smartphones. For example the Spanish bathroom manufacturer, Roca, launched their version of the Smart Toilet:
Modern 'smart' toilets analyse urine for health biomarkers, auto-flush, self-clean with UV light or electrolysed water, and connect to smartphones. For example the Spanish bathroom manufacturer, Roca, launched their version of the Smart Toilet:
"Roca’s Smart Toilet collection
presents a number of intuitive models that combine the quality and
design commitment of a standard Roca toilet with bidet and drying
functions. For the most advanced Smart Toilet technology, In-Wash®
In-Tank® goes one step further, integrating the cistern into the toilet
pan itself, and removing the need for a separate concealed cistern."
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The above is based on a talk which I 'performed' until 2018. I did 110 of these lectures, in countries around the world, before I retired.
Terence (Terry) Woolliscroft
BSc(Hons), Grad.I Ceram., FCIPHE