Gentlemen'S Public Lavatories Approx 45M North Of Holborne Museum

These gentlemen's public lavatories, dating from 1914, are located approximately 45 meters north of the Holburne Museum. The structure was cast by the Star Works in Birmingham. It is a roughly rectangular building on plan, featuring an inset baffle entry.

The building is constructed of cast iron, with a later glass roof. The exterior is based on a rectangular tubular framework supporting cast iron panels with decorative bands, set over a plinth, dado, and top. The plinth is articulated by decorative frames, and features square decorative panels up to dado level. The top of the building has a pierced ventilation frieze with a foliate motif. The open entrance is screened by a panel similar to those on the exterior, set back to create a baffle entry. Original fittings remain in situ.

Sydney Gardens were originally laid out as commercial pleasure grounds between 1792 and 1794, initially designed by Thomas Baldwin and later by Charles Harcourt Masters. They opened as Sydney Gardens Vauxhall in 1795 and became a popular place of entertainment. A section of the Kennet and Avon Canal was cut through the gardens in 1799, and further features were added during the 19th century. A section of the Great Western Railway was constructed through the gardens from around 1839. Bath City Council purchased the site in 1908, and the gardens were opened as a municipal park in 1913, while the Sydney Tavern, formerly on site, was remodelled into the Holburne Museum. The lavatories were added in 1914 at a cost of £400, chosen for their economy. Later alterations in the late 20th century rendered the cast-iron lavatories redundant. The gardens remain in use as a public park.

The lavatories are designated at Grade II for their significance as an unusually complete survival of industrial prefabrication applied to a specialized building type, representing a rare survival of street furniture. Their good-quality casting and decorative detailing are notable, especially considering their utilitarian purpose. They also have group value with the nearby ladies’ lavatories of the same date and with other listed buildings within Sydney Gardens.