Our disappearing "loos"
 

There is a poem in the Observer today about the disappearing loos of Accrington. Some are named i.e. Edgar Street, Manchester Road, Blackburn Road, Queens Road West. Any of you out there remember any of them?
Here are a couple some of you may recall

The first one shows the "round" one that used to be in Union Street, designed by an Accrington man (photo thanks to Owd Bert)

The second, not very clear, showing Woolworths. If you look carefully, you can see the entrance to the Mens loos, which were down steps. The Ladies entrance was a little higher up the street, almost opposite to where Andys Florists is. When the toilets belonging to the Umbrella market opened, they closed the Dutton Street ones, and just piled rubble into them to level them off before tarmacing the road

Re: Our disappearing "loos"
 

I loved the 'circle' toilets as a child (to look at, not hanging around in...). That will be Platt Saco Lowell in the background?

Re: Our disappearing "loos"
 

Would it be in the 60's that the toilets in Dutton street dissapeared.

Re: Our disappearing "loos"
 

Hi Janet, yes it was. Not sure of the exact date, have it somewhere, but not got around to looking yet, but . ....I will do!

Re: Our disappearing
 

I think it was 1962 when they built the "old" New Market with it's new loos.

Re: Our disappearing
 

I remember the circular toilets I'm afraid the other one was before my time. At least we haven't got one of these yet, but with HBC anything is possible!!! :)

A loo with a view...

Re: Our disappearing
 

Someone did'nt flush the toilet properly.

Re: Our disappearing "loos"
 

Nice one Lettie! I have to say that I would be JUST A BIT wary of using one of those! One can only imagine what the voyeuristic types would get up to in there.....!

Re: Our disappearing
 

I bet it costs more than 20p to use one of those things

Re: Our disappearing "loos"
 

Now here is an interesting site....
http://www.cromwell-intl.com/toilet/
There are some interesting pictures taken of toilets he has encountered whilst on his travels.

However my favourite loo is the last one on this page
http://www.lpf.com/adventure/toilets/

Re: Our disappearing "loos"
 

I remember the loos in Dutton Street. They had thick glass tiles on top to let light in but you could also walk over them.

Re: Our disappearing
 

Probably about a quid!!!! :D

Loos in Dutton Street
 

Found this, might help you visualise where the entrance to the underground toilets was. Not the best of photographs, but you can see the Town Hall so that should help get "your bearings". Will look out for some more photos.

More loos
 

These two were taken in Oak Hill Park. The first one of course now demolished, this was near the Manchester Road side of the park. The second one no longer in use, this is by the lower entrance in Hollins Lane. Fine buildings, aren't they?

Re: Our disappearing "loos"
 

I knew there used to be loos in Oakhill Park. What a shame there aren't any now. It's crazy if you go there for a music festival or something and you are miles from town centre. Can't remember if they have portaloos for things like that but I do recall being there with kids who "need a weewee" and having to head back to town centre.

Re: Our disappearing
 

I remember the circular ones but can't can someone just refresh my memory as to what street was union street, its been that long! yes I remember the ones one Queens road too, behind the sweet shop, think there was some funny business going on there thats why they pulled them down! wondered though if anyone could be so kind as to post the poem, sounds like a good one!

at least theres still outdoor loos though, over here you'ved had it if you need to go and your out at the park, there only opened from June-oct. maybe thats pee season!!!! Canadians eh!!!!

Re: Our disappearing
 

Mo, Union street is where the Faces Club / Sidewalk 54 and the back entrance of Woolies used to be.. :)

Re: Our disappearing "loos"
 

They have always had portaloos at the Sounds festivals as far as i can remember - they are further up from where the rabbits and birds used to be but a bit back from the footpath. I believe that the Oak Hill Park toilets were closed due to 'unsavoury behavior'. I was up there a couple of months ago and went in the second loo (nr Hollins Lane) to have a nosy as the board had been smashed down - it had been wrecked (inevitably) and was full of empty cans, shoes and clothes(?) and there were a couple of syringes lying on the floor, an absolute disgrace - I would rather they were knocked down than turned into 'musuems' of drug abuse and god knows what. Any kid could have wandered in - scary.

Re: Our disappearing "loos"
 

Never seen this owd thread, but seem to recall urinals up top of Eagle St,under railway bridge, just around corner (Scaitlcliffe St?) facing H@B? was also some toilets on Alice St just off Burnley Rd, near owd Peel Park.

Re: Our disappearing "loos"
 

My husband says if you want to know about urinals from years ago get in touch with "KILROY". He's been in all of them.

Re: Our disappearing "loos"
 

Tell yer hubby,he seems to have my sense of humour Irene.:D

Re: Our disappearing "loos"
 

Same here Cashy, there was also a urinal on Lonsdale St, up the little side street(?) at the top side od the railway arch. Constructed from large slabs of slate - know it well because we used to chalk the wickets on the slate - the outside.:D

Re: Our disappearing "loos"
 

Yep had forgotten that un.

Re: Loos in Dutton Street
 

They were in the middle of the road with traffic passing both sides as I can remember

Our disappearing "loos"
 

Just about every bridge over the canal had a gents toilet, (urinal only), I believe they were removed because they just emptied into the cut.

Re: Loos in Dutton Street
 

Don't think so mate, reckon traffic could only move on right hand side looking up?:confused:

Re: Our disappearing "loos"
 

Was there one under the first railway arch going to Morton St, has anyone mentioned the one at the bottom of Castle st near the Australian.

Re: Loos in Dutton Street
 

Me old memory's going

Re: Our disappearing "loos"
 

Cant remember if there were any in the Market Hall. Don't mean the ones in Peel St.

Re: Our disappearing "loos"
 

I saw another closed down loo today - Union Rd, just about opposite the Tinker & Budget.

Re: Our disappearing "loos"
 

The ones in the Market Hall are for traders only and have a combination codelock on the door Alan.

Re: Our disappearing "loos"
 

Don't think there were any public toilets in the market hall Alan, but there were some on the balcony for traders, I used them whilst working on refitting a display.

Re: Our disappearing "loos"
 

Yet now new bogs fer the public have appeared on the balcony, another stupid waste of money, :rolleyes:

Re: Our disappearing "loos"
 

Hey, hang on, when we used to walk home because back then no-one could afford a taxi, we needed the bogs that littered the place.
The number of times, (going back to when there used to be a gents over the canal), whilst walking a lass home, we would have to go inside check there was no-one there so she could sneak in and take advantage of the facility.

Being polite we never witnessed how they coped with the urinal!

However, these day's lads just push them into a taxi, let them pay, and don't care how damp the seat might get.