Time was when a penny could buy something useful such as a vital service. A pure convenience it was, and that was in the days when there were 240 pennies, not a miserable 100, to the pound. At least in those days spending a penny was easy to do. Seemingly, there was a convenience on almost every street corner. Now there are virtually none left and bladders have had to become reinforced in sympathy. Our towns and cities are manifestly inconvenient these days.
Mind you, we in Britain have never been quite so lacking in prudishness as our near neighbours, the French, who sported an impressive range of pissoirs that were entirely free, not a centime to be put into the slot, and remarkable open to public scrutiny. This gallery of period pictures harks back to a more civilised past when town planners took a realistic note of citizens’ requirements.
Those public “conveniences” that do remain in Britain cost considerably more than a penny. In London it isn’t unusual to be asked for all of 50p (that’s 120 old pennies) while outside the capital a more modest 20p rules. Unfortunately, even at 50p (which you would think is good business), urban toilets are now virtually impossible to find.
Instead of spending a penny we are now expected to duck into Starbucks and spend £3 for a pee.
I’m lucky at Vauxhall Cross. There’s an open air convenience right at the bus stop. 🙂
Very convenient place, Vauxhall Cross, although I’m not too familiar with it. Seven Dials used to have facilities, too.
This story reminds me of the BBC serialisation of the comic tale of "Clochemerle"…
Just looked it up on Wikipedia, and I was surprised to note that it dates back to 1972, a time when we still remember how many pennies there were to a pound, and coincidentally, a time when we still remember what it was like to be free to kick out the wrong government.
Doh…
There I go again!
I note having re-read your post that your subtleties are initially lost on me Mike.
Being a sufferer of Crohn’s disease, I am well aware of the problems caused by our local administrations’ complete disregard for the needs of the public… Starbucks… pah!