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| HER Number: | MYO4777 |
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| Type of record: | Monument |
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| Name: | The Sugar House |
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Summary
In the 1730’s the ‘New Walk’ was created from this point along the riverbank towards Fulford, so that the upper classes could promenade and show off their finery away from the dirty narrow streets of the city. One hazard, or perhaps delight, of this was that men used to swim nude in the river. So the city council decreed that ‘men exposing themselves naked in the water be prosecuted for a nuisance’!
To service the needs of high-class citizens using the New Walk Davy Tower was converted into a public toilet. This was known as the ‘Sugar house’, which shows that ‘sugar’ is a very old euphemism for shit!
Information from York Civic Trust
Monument Type(s)
- PUBLIC CONVENIENCE (Early 17th Century - 1607 AD to 1607 AD)
Protected Status
- Area of Archaeological Importance
Full description
In the 1730’s the ‘New Walk’ was created from this point along the riverbank towards Fulford, so that the upper classes could promenade and show off their finery away from the dirty narrow streets of the city. One hazard, or perhaps delight, of this was that men used to swim nude in the river. So the city council decreed that ‘men exposing themselves naked in the water be prosecuted for a nuisance’!
To service the needs of high-class citizens using the New Walk Davy Tower was converted into a public toilet. This was known as the ‘Sugar house’, which shows that ‘sugar’ is a very old euphemism for shit!
Related records
| MYO717 | Related to: YORK CITY WALLS (DAVY TOWER) (Monument) |
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