children's author James M. Deem   

Read stories by James M. Deem Who is James M. Deem? Here are all the details. Discover the range of books written by James M. Deem Info about scheduling a school visit with James M. Deem The Halloween Haunted House--full of ghost stories!
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 Featured Books:

Bodies from the Ice: Melting Glaciers & the Recovery of the Past

Bodies from the Ash

Bodies from the Bog

3 NBs of Julian Drew

 
 

 

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  o r f o r d   c a s t l e

 

The keep at ORford Castle

 

One of the most interesting castles with toilets is tiny Orford Castle in the eastern part of England (it's near Ipswich). 

On a sunny day it's a picture postcard type of castle, though only the keep is still standing, on its considerable earthworks.

 

 

The constable's urinal

 

What makes the castle fascinating are the toilets, which were fairly numerous for the time period. Particularly unusual are (1) the double toilets (in one room) to be found on the first floor and the urinal (all on the entrance level). Shown at the right, the urinal is a rarity in many castles; urinals were usually just a small hole in the floor. Here, a rather elaborate and roomy urinal was built for the constable (the person in charge) of the castle.

 

Equally interesting is the sewer system. The discharge from the toilets emptied out at the rear of the keep through a series of four rather large chutes. By concentrating the waste in one area, perhaps the castle designer was hoping to confine the stench to one place, too.

Toilet chutes at Orford castle

And if you are in the area, make sure you don't miss Framlingham Castle, an enormous concentric castle, complete with decorative Tudor chimneys.

 

CASTLE STORIES AT jamesmdeem.com

Castle Story 1: The Deadly Siege of Kildrummy Castle

Castle Story 2: The Deadly Siege of Rochester Castle

Castle Story 3: Master James of St. Georges

Castle Toilet Page 

Castle Toilets at Orford Castle

 
 

 

Unless otherwise noted, all contents ŠJames M. Deem, 1988-2008. 

For permission to quote from or reproduce this material, please contact James M. Deem.

Be sure to visit James M. Deem's other website, The Mummy Tombs for the most mummy information on the Internet.