Saint John's Hospital, Northgate: details (2)
St John Baptist
St John Baptist

This was the hall in the original building - dating from the 1080's, now a pleasant garden.

 

A beautiful Romanesque door arch leading between the old hall and the chapel area

St John Baptist - reredorter
St John Baptist - reredorter
These are the original toilets (reredorter). much restored, which served the residents for over 900 years!
This is the back side, so to speak - the effluent was intended to be washed away by the waters of the River Stour (directed by channels) which passed nearby.
Men and women had a separate bench, but in the same room...
Toilets from inside looking down...
St John Baptist - reredorter
St John Baptist - reredorter
  Old (Victorian) toilet system added to the original hole...
St John Baptist - reredorter
St John Baptist - reredorter
Nothing modern here...  
   
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