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SPENDING A PENNY AT ROTHESAY; OR, HOW ONE LAVATORY BECAME A GENTLEMAN'S LOO

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 March 2008

Kevin A. Morrison
Kevin A. Morrison*
Affiliation:
Rice University
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Extract

On 19 June 1900, during the heyday of the British seaside resort, a new gentleman's lavatory opened on one of the Firth of Clyde's most famous piers. The Isle of Bute was a popular destination for Scottish Victorians, who would make the short journey from Glasgow by paddle steamer for a day of shopping or a weekend holiday. Despite its small size and close proximity to major cities, Rothesay, the island's only town, supported a large number of shops year round and hosted regular fairs during the summer. Travelers were also lured to the island by its diverse topography and by Rothesay Castle, which dates from 1230 and eventually devolved to the Stuarts. The island's moderate west-coast climate attracted a considerable number of visitors throughout the year (Figure 1).

Type
Research Article
Information
Victorian Literature and Culture , Volume 36 , Issue 1 , March 2008 , pp. 79 - 94
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

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