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the victorian war on public weeing

Urine Deflectors of Fleet Street

FreeHidden gem
City of London · Temple
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Cunning angled ledges built into Victorian walls to splash back on anyone caught relieving themselves in a dark corner.

Getting there. In passages off Fleet Street, such as around Bridewell and the Embankment side, near Temple.
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City of London · Temple
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The lowdown

In the days before public toilets were common, dark alley corners around Fleet Street were a notorious magnet for men caught short, and property owners fought back with a sneaky bit of engineering. Built into the base of certain walls are urine deflectors, angled stone or iron ledges designed so that anyone relieving themselves would have it splash straight back onto their shoes and trousers.

A handful of these spiteful Victorian devices survive, easy to walk past without a clue to their purpose. It is free, and gloriously petty, to track them down, a reminder that London's everyday problems and ingenious solutions are nothing new.

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The insider tip

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Look for the angled ledges at the foot of walls in shadowy alley corners, especially around Clifford's Inn Passage and similar nooks. Once you know what they are, you will start spotting them across the older parts of town.
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