Backlands at 154 Crookston Street (now Carnoustie Street) in Kingston, c 1920s.
The brick chimney stacks and water closet stacks are later additions to these stone-built Victorian tenements. The 1892 Police Act made internal toilets compulsory so property owners were obliged to add water closet stacks to those tenements which did not already have indoor toilets. The stacks housed a toilet on each floor, shared by all the families living on a stair landing. Some, such as the stacks shown here, had small balconies that permitted fresh air to circulate through the stairwell.
Washing is draped over the balcony railings and hanging from windows to dry.
Reference: 670.84.137
Reproduced with the permission of Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Museums
Keywords:
1892 Police Act, backcourts, backlands, balconies, children, chimneys, laundry, tenements, toilets, washing, water closets, wc stacks