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Life before indoor plumbing - the Chamberpot.
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DescriptionLife before indoor plumbing - the Chamberpot.
It was a long, scary walk to the outhouse at night so we had a potty under the bed.We had an outhouse earlier on then a flush toilet was put in the wash house at the back of the house, but it was still a scary walk.Map[1] ContributorHeather Newby
It was a long, scary walk to the outhouse at night so we had a potty under the bed.We had an outhouse earlier on then a flush toilet was put in the wash house at the back of the house, but it was still a scary walk.Map[1] ContributorHeather Newby
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Location (city or town)GreymouthEventPotty
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Category TagHousehold
From Facebook
Date Created28th May 2021CommentsBetty Clark
We had a crockery one.
Cheryl Heiskanen Fazzini
My Austrian grandma had one under her bed in San Francisco.
Arlene Hutcheon
My grandmother had a chamber pot, and gave me one too. I preferred to get up and go to the loo, it was an outside one closed in, so not so bad. Better than a chamber pot!!!!
Trish Rennie
Got daffodils in our old China one and succulents in the enamel one
Lynn Day
Oh yeah remember that horrible thing well
Lynnette Beirne
And commodes with them in
Heather Newby
Lynnette Beirne i remember them too
Ted McCreath
Morning routine. Make bed. Empty the po and make sure you wash it out.
Elaine Mcgill
My father used to warm it in front of the fire turning it round an round so my little bottom wouldnt have ti sit on the cold metal
Susan Barlow
My aunt had the most beautiful ceramic set ... potty, washing basin & plate plus candle sticks. Was it really that long ago?
Alan N Barb Cochrane
giz under
Mandy Bruce
We had one under our bed at my grandparents house
Christine Stewart
Grandma Coyle in Hokitika had one in the spare room we used to stay in some times. It was always under the single bed but I would rather use the outside dunny.
· Reply · 2h
Lynnette Beirne
Christine Stewart what was your Grandma Coyles name please
· Reply · 2h
Christine Stewart
Lynnette Beirne Winifred( Wini ) Patricia Coyle but on her grave it’s Patricia Winifred , she past away 12 May 1983 , we always called her auntie win till I found out she was my grandma on mothers side ,
· Reply · 1h · Edited
Sandy Brears
The out house where i lived was up a track over a wee bridge, needless to say we did not share with the opossums
· Reply · 1h
Kathryn Ward
Christine Stewart did she live in Revell Street?
· Reply · 1h
Lynnette Beirne
Christine Stewart did she live in Fitzherbert street
Sandy Brears
A Gzunder was common place at my Nana's place
Christine Stewart
Kathryn Ward yes she did
Christine Stewart
Lynnette Beirne Only lived in revel street when we visited but her son Gordon lives in fitzherbert im told now
Lynnette Beirne
Christine Stewart my great aunt was Agnes Coyle née Atkinson
She lived in Tudor Street and her brother my grandfather was Clarrie Atkinson and he lived at Mananui
Sheryl Iraia
My grandmother had them. Also had a commode in her bedroom. I remember her getting a flush toilet inside. No more having to go outside for the loo.
Dorothy Wills
My mother used a chamber pot for most of her life originally because the toilet was an outdoor one a long way from the house, and later because she didn’t like going to the toilet when other people were about. I’m eternally grateful that the flush toilet was invented I don’t think I could get down far enough these days to use a chamber pot, it boggles the mind to think back when older ladies had no other option
Katarina Leaf-Dobbs
Dorothy Wills they usually had a special stool for the use of the chamber pot. Some were quite fancy, some were just a stool or chair specifically just for the use of a chamber pot.
Lisa Molloy
Oh the memories, after my leg surgery I use one, no shame been a vital part of life for longer than I’ve been here on earth
Linda Howard
I remember it well...also the outhouse.
Trish Barclay
Spoilt girl lovely Dad
Joye Hanrahan
I still have one I keep in my bathroom with toilet paper rolls in it
June Wilson
Oh yes, in desperation when it was raining cats and dogs and the dunny was long way down the path the potty was the grateful answer.
Anne Van Looy
Ylp jerry under the bed you were told it was only for number ones
Faye Cillekens
Grt auntie aggie was my nanas sister.pearly atkinson.Used to visit her when a child.She always wore black clothes.
Anne Bruce
We had BIG for trees in the yard, great for a midnight pee. Too damn scary to go up the hill to spider riddeled long-drop bog.
Megan Wilson
Joy Creagh remember grandma Curtis one
We had a crockery one.
Cheryl Heiskanen Fazzini
My Austrian grandma had one under her bed in San Francisco.
Arlene Hutcheon
My grandmother had a chamber pot, and gave me one too. I preferred to get up and go to the loo, it was an outside one closed in, so not so bad. Better than a chamber pot!!!!
Trish Rennie
Got daffodils in our old China one and succulents in the enamel one
Lynn Day
Oh yeah remember that horrible thing well
Lynnette Beirne
And commodes with them in
Heather Newby
Lynnette Beirne i remember them too
Ted McCreath
Morning routine. Make bed. Empty the po and make sure you wash it out.
Elaine Mcgill
My father used to warm it in front of the fire turning it round an round so my little bottom wouldnt have ti sit on the cold metal
Susan Barlow
My aunt had the most beautiful ceramic set ... potty, washing basin & plate plus candle sticks. Was it really that long ago?
Alan N Barb Cochrane
giz under
Mandy Bruce
We had one under our bed at my grandparents house
Christine Stewart
Grandma Coyle in Hokitika had one in the spare room we used to stay in some times. It was always under the single bed but I would rather use the outside dunny.
· Reply · 2h
Lynnette Beirne
Christine Stewart what was your Grandma Coyles name please
· Reply · 2h
Christine Stewart
Lynnette Beirne Winifred( Wini ) Patricia Coyle but on her grave it’s Patricia Winifred , she past away 12 May 1983 , we always called her auntie win till I found out she was my grandma on mothers side ,
· Reply · 1h · Edited
Sandy Brears
The out house where i lived was up a track over a wee bridge, needless to say we did not share with the opossums
· Reply · 1h
Kathryn Ward
Christine Stewart did she live in Revell Street?
· Reply · 1h
Lynnette Beirne
Christine Stewart did she live in Fitzherbert street
Sandy Brears
A Gzunder was common place at my Nana's place
Christine Stewart
Kathryn Ward yes she did
Christine Stewart
Lynnette Beirne Only lived in revel street when we visited but her son Gordon lives in fitzherbert im told now
Lynnette Beirne
Christine Stewart my great aunt was Agnes Coyle née Atkinson
She lived in Tudor Street and her brother my grandfather was Clarrie Atkinson and he lived at Mananui
Sheryl Iraia
My grandmother had them. Also had a commode in her bedroom. I remember her getting a flush toilet inside. No more having to go outside for the loo.
Dorothy Wills
My mother used a chamber pot for most of her life originally because the toilet was an outdoor one a long way from the house, and later because she didn’t like going to the toilet when other people were about. I’m eternally grateful that the flush toilet was invented I don’t think I could get down far enough these days to use a chamber pot, it boggles the mind to think back when older ladies had no other option
Katarina Leaf-Dobbs
Dorothy Wills they usually had a special stool for the use of the chamber pot. Some were quite fancy, some were just a stool or chair specifically just for the use of a chamber pot.
Lisa Molloy
Oh the memories, after my leg surgery I use one, no shame been a vital part of life for longer than I’ve been here on earth
Linda Howard
I remember it well...also the outhouse.
Trish Barclay
Spoilt girl lovely Dad
Joye Hanrahan
I still have one I keep in my bathroom with toilet paper rolls in it
June Wilson
Oh yes, in desperation when it was raining cats and dogs and the dunny was long way down the path the potty was the grateful answer.
Anne Van Looy
Ylp jerry under the bed you were told it was only for number ones
Faye Cillekens
Grt auntie aggie was my nanas sister.pearly atkinson.Used to visit her when a child.She always wore black clothes.
Anne Bruce
We had BIG for trees in the yard, great for a midnight pee. Too damn scary to go up the hill to spider riddeled long-drop bog.
Megan Wilson
Joy Creagh remember grandma Curtis one
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West Coast New Zealand History (29th May 2021). Life before indoor plumbing - the Chamberpot.. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 10th Apr 2026 15:42, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/29411