Archived Report - Victorian Toilets in Union Terrace Gardens, Aberdeen -- 19/02/08

[MeowMix]

Took a while but I finally got in. I don't think this place has been done before, so here goes

The Union Terrace Gardens toilets were closed to the public in 2000. All the original tiling and fittings are still intact. There are plans to renovate the building and turn it into a cafe soon. The building itself is an almost semi-circular shaped place tucked away under Union Bridge directly below the Edward VII statue. The small glass brick windows you can see above the urinals lead onto the pavement on union street.

The gents toilet is very spacious and luxurious, clad in green glazed tiles, marble and mosaic floors. Somehow, it's a calming place to be, it's nice to listen to the sounds of traffic and people walking above.

The ladies toilet is a much smaller room under the stairs with pink and brown tiling and fancy ceramic sinks, it's looking a bit worse for wear.

There are more tunnels going behind the garden arches, but they have been sealed off a while.

Marble urinals


Skylights onto Union Street


Window and toilet cubicles


Window detail


The pillar at the left of the photo supports the weight of the Edward VII statue above








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