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98
assent of the Commissioners. Some correspondence ensued, and ultimately
the Vestry were gratified to learn that although Colonel Kingscote,
in face of the objections taken by the Metropolitan Board of Works and a
few occupiers of Crown property in the vicinity, felt bound to decline to
give any approval of the scheme, yet as the Vestry appeared to be still of
opinion that the conveniences were needed in the interests of the public,
he would not further oppose their construction in accordance with the
drawings submitted, subject to certain specified amendments. The Vestry
were thus spared the necessity of considering whether they should not
exercise the power which they undoubtedly possessed, apart from any consent,
of constructing public conveniences at the Circus on the level of the
street.
The conveniences have been constructed by Messrs. B. Finch and Co.,.
of Belvedere Road, Lambeth, whose drawings were accepted by the Vestry
after limited competition (five firms of Sanitary Engineers having been
invited to submit designs), subject to some slight modifications. The
superstructure, consisting of a group of ornamental lamps on a polished
granite base, was designed by Mr. H. J. Treadwell, F.S.I., of 2, Waterloo
Place, who was appointed special Surveyor to advise the Vestry on questions
of detail and to supervise the carrying out of the work.
The Conveniences are divided into two sections, each having a separate
entrance from the street, the larger being designed for the use of Gentlemen,
and the smaller for Ladies.
Both sections are approached from the street by a stone staircase
there being two flights of stairs, one for entrance and one for exit, for the
Men, and a single staircase for the Ladies.
The accommodation provided in the men's section consists of 27
urinals, and 12 w.c.s. The urinals are of the most approved lip pattern,
in white glazed ware with chocolate and gold lines, with flushing rims, and
are fitted with patent drip pans or gutters at the floor level. These are
flushed at every discharge of the cisterns, thus ensuring perfect cleanliness.
The divisions are of polished natural "dove" marble, and the backs of
polished "rouge royal," with "dove" marble cappings and skirtings, the
foot pieces being of white Sicilian marble.
The urinals are flushed by means of patent automatic flushing cisterns
These are formed in dove marble with plate glass fronts, and ensure a
regularly recurring flush.