Furness Abbey - Reredorter

  • Description

    "The Reredorter was situated adjoining the "dorter" where the monks slept, and was their communal latrine. The fast flowing stream carrying effluent away, as a kind of permanently flushing toilet. This cunning plan had one flaw it seems to me, in that the waters of the stream then continue across the abbey complex to the kitchen and infirmary where the water (now somewhat polluted) was used for cooking and for tending the sick. Note: "Reredorter" (pronounced rear-dorter) is a C19th term for this kind of latrine, at the time of its construction it would have been known as a "necessarium" - the place for necessary activities. Cf. a similar arrangement at Fountains Abbey http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/947296" Photo by Rob Farrow, 2013.
  • Owner

    Rob Farrow
  • Source

    Geograph (Geograph)
  • License

    What does this mean? Creative Commons License
  • Further information

    Link: http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3708200
    Resource type: Image
    Added by: Edmund Anon
    Last modified: 6 years, 1 month ago
    Viewed: 433 times
    Picture Taken: 2013-10-19
  • Co-Curate tags

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