A genuine cast iron urinal from the Victorian era, in central London!

It is a ‘pissoir’, and it is an all-French invention. Indeed, it was in the spring of 1830 that in Paris it was decided to install the first public urinals on the streets of the city.

Urinal Victorian Era London — © Wonders of London

This London urinal was manufactured in 1851 by McDowall, Steven & Co, an iron foundry firm established in 1828 in Glasgow, which was the first city in the whole of the UK where the first urinals were installed in 1850.

The urinal rests against the walls of the famous Lincoln’s Inn, it features a royal coat of arms on the sides, and is Grade II listed.

It has also been completely refurbished.

But don’t get any strange ideas. If at any time you gentlemen need to “go” and cannot hold it, unfortunately the urinal is no longer functional and is also closed to the public.

In fact, today it is part of the property of the house opposite, rented by Westminster Council, and is used as a storeroom.

If you’re curious you can watch the video of the urinal in London on TikTok, Instagram and Twitter!