Sanisette in Le Havre Centre ville
To take care if necessary :-)
1st century
The term "vespasian" comes from the Roman emperor Vespasian.
In the first century, Vespasian extended a special tax on the collection of urine, a source of ammonia and used by dyers to prepare the fabrics before putting them in color or to degrease the wools, fabrics, sheets, etc.
Mocked for this tax, he would have answered: "Money has no smell", a sentence that has become proverbial.
18th century
In the eighteenth century, urinating in the street being banned in large cities, it is decided to have barrels of ease at every corner of Paris.
In 1834, Count Claude-Philibert de Rambuteau installed 478 kiosks quickly named "Rambuteau columns" then "Vespasian column" in reference to the Roman emperor.
In 1839, "Moorish columns", outdoor poster stands and indoor urinals were installed, to be replaced in 1868 by Morris columns for display and by Vespasiennes for toilets.
19th century
In the nineteenth century, Le Havre homes were not equipped with toilets: the approximately 100,000 inhabitants used jars of rooms that were emptied in the street, sometimes by the windows.
In 1885, Jules Siegfried then Mayor of Le Havre had eight cabinets and 21 urinals installed.
In 1914, out of 15,000 buildings, Le Havre has less than 1,000 connected to the sewerage system.