Public Conveniences

The Surveyor's plan for the Park in 1899 included "Conveniences ...for Gentlemen in a position well protected by trees"[1] but it is not known where exactly this was provided initially. In May 1908 a special committee of the Council appointed to look into provision of urinals in the town recommended that the urinal in the Park be removed and that a new ornamental one be placed in the Park near the Main Entrance and that it be surrounded with suitable shrubs.[2]

Discussions about a new Urinal in the Park took place over some months and in February 1909 the Parks Committee recommended that:

"An Ornamental Convenience for Gentlemen be erected on the left hand side of the entrance from Rectory Road, between the main road running through the Park and the Beach Road boundary railings of the same, and at a distance of about 30 yards from the entrance gates. ... The structure to be kept at as low a foundation as possible, and the paths leading to and from to be lined with shrubs, etc, to make it as private as possible." [3]

On the 28th June the Committee approved a sketch of the proposed Urinal which was to have 5 stalls and 3 W.C.[4] and in July the Council proposed to borrow £250 to provide both lavatories and a fountain in Alexandra Park.[5] In 1911 no further progreess had been made, but the Council received two complaints of the "unsightliness" of the existing urinal[6][7] and in October 1911 the Parks Committee decided that further screening of the urinal in the Park was to be left to the Surveyor.[8]

Ordnance Survey maps from the 1920s to the 1950s do show a urinal at the Rectory Road entrance, below and to the east of the main path. In May 1940 the Parks Committee decided that the Surveyor should report on "the extension of the Convenience at Alexandra Park and in the meantime the Ladies Convenience at the Lower end" (near the Lodge) was to be closed.

In December 1961 a resident at Albany Court (in Beach Road, opposite Rectory Road) requested that the convenience in the Park be relocated, but the Parks Committee decided to take no action other than instructing the Superintendent to investigate better screening.[9]

On the 1970s Ordnance Survey map a Public Convenience was still marked at the Rectory Road entrance, but in that year the Parks Committee decided that it should be removed.[10]

Alexandra Park Conveniences

The toilet block near Rectory Road entrance © Ben Salter

Alexandra Park Conveniences

Alexandra Park looking up towards Rectory Road © Ben Salter

Sources of information

  1. Report of Parks and Pleasure Grounds Committee, 7th March 1899
  2. Meeting of the Special Committee appointed to consider the question of Additional Urinals 18th May 1908
  3. Meeting of the Parks Committee 16th February 1909 at the Park
  4. Meeting of the Parks Committee 28th June 1909
  5. Meeting of the Council 26th July 1909
  6. Meeting of the Parks Committee 20th March 1911
  7. Meeting of the Council 3rd April 1911
  8. Meeting of the Parks Committee 16th October 1911
  9. Meeting of the Parks and Allotments Committee 11th December 1961
  10. Meeting of the Parks and Allotments Committee 14th December 1970