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The first women\u2019s public toilets in London opened on Bedford St on 11th February, 1852 - attempting to capitalize on the success of George Jennings\u2019 \u2018monkey closets\u2019, used by over 800,000 visitors to the 1851 Great Exhibition.\nUnfortunately, even though the facility had been fought for by campaigning women\u2019s sanitary organizations, middle and upper class Victorian ladies were not yet prepared to pee in public - and the toilets closed a year later.\nIn this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly explain where the phrase \u2018spending a penny\u2019 (probably) comes from; reveal why \u2018the urinary leash\u2019 came to describe the predicament of women\u2019s lives; and investigate why the number of 21st century public toilets continues to fall\u2026\xa0\nFurther Reading:\n\u2022 \u2018Pamphlets of the Ladies Sanitary Association\u2019 (Wellcome Collection): https://wellcomecollection.org/works?query=%22Ladies+Sanitary+Association.%22\n\u2022 \u2018London's long-term lav affair: A history of public toilets in the capital\u2019 (BBC News, 2022): https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-59785477\n\u2022 \u2018Victorian realities - how did they use the toilet??!\u2019 (Prior Attire, 2016): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUHeSTDv_24\nEnjoy this episode? There is SIX MINUTES MORE available to our subscribers on Apple Podcasts and our top two tiers of supporters via Patreon. Sign up now to support the show and receive bonus content every single week!\n#1800s #Victorian #Sexism #Inventions #Funny #UK\n Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices