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London Nightmen. These men who are carrying the contents of a cess pool in a wooden tub
Filename: 917_05_010893.jpg
Size: 2125 x 2575 (4.1MB)
Date: 26th March 2014
Source: Universal Images Group (UIG)
© Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group
Wall Art and Photo Gifts from Universal Images Group (UIG)
London Nightmen. These men who are carrying the contents of a cess pool in a wooden tub
London Nightmen. These men who are carrying the contents of a cess pool in a wooden tub, carried out their smelly, dirty job at night. Their candle lanterns are on the ground. The tub would be carried out into the street and its contents tipped into a horse-drawn tanker. The tanker would then be taken to market gardens on the outskirts of the city where its contents would be used as fertiliser. Engraving from London Labour and the London Poor by Henry Mayhew (London, 1861)
Universal Images Group (UIG) manages distribution for many leading specialist agencies worldwide
Media ID 9754527
© Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group
1861 Candle Carried Carrying City Contents Dirty Fertiliser Gardens Ground Henry Horse Drawn Horticulture Labour Lanterns Market Mayhew Night Pool Poor Street Wooden Outskirts Sanitation Smelly Tanker Tipped
EDITORS COMMENTS
This print titled "London Nightmen" offers a glimpse into the gritty reality of 19th-century sanitation in England's bustling capital. The image showcases a group of men diligently carrying out their unpleasant task under the cover of darkness. With wooden tubs strapped to their backs, these nightmen bear the burden of transporting the putrid contents from cesspools through the city streets. As depicted in this engraving from Henry Mayhew's renowned book "London Labour and the London Poor" these dedicated workers relied on candle lanterns to guide them through their odorous journey. Once outside, they would carefully empty their tubs into horse-drawn tankers destined for market gardens located on London's outskirts. Here, amidst lush greenery, this repulsive waste would be transformed into valuable fertilizer for horticulture purposes. The image serves as a stark reminder of how essential yet unglamorous jobs were carried out by those living in poverty during that era. It sheds light on an aspect of Victorian society often overlooked - the unsung heroes who ensured public health and cleanliness despite enduring challenging conditions. Through this historical photograph, we are transported back to a time when labor was arduous and hygiene practices were still evolving. It stands as a testament to human resilience and resourcefulness while offering us an opportunity to reflect upon our progress in sanitation over centuries gone by.
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