Bar incoming? Greenwich public toilets up for rent
Former public toilets in the heart of Greenwich are now up to rent for anyone hoping to start a small business – or possibly create a new home.
These public conveniences in question are near Grenwich Park on King William walk seconds from Greenwich Park.
I have to say taking photos of toilets – even closed ones – does feel bloody odd. I waited until it was quieter and the myriad tourists had gone though even then, it must have looked a tad odd to others. Sorry to any thinking what the hell is he doing taking photos there.
It also reminded me that a while back I’d taken photos of closed toilets at Blackheath Standard, mainly as they looked barely changed from Victorian times. God knows what people also thought then if they saw me taking snaps but it was intended for a post on this site, though I never got around to putting it up.
Well here they are. Pretty much identical in design to those in Greenwich.
I loved that sign and also thought it’d make an interesting post on the lack of facilities, council retrenchment from such services and what future awaits.
Though after taking these back in 2024 I promptly forget and only now reminded after Greenwich toilets were put up for rent.
So what future awaits?
Well, some across the country have found a new lease of life. Bars, coffee shops, homes and much else have been built in former WCs.
Will that be the fate for closed toilets in Greenwich and Blackheath? We shall see.
Lost public conveniences
Of course, remaining as public toilets would be welcome but the state of council finances now makes it unlikely.
As someone who doesn’t really need to use toilets in an emergency it never really hit me how important they are. Having a young daughter changed that. Some have been a life saver (the new toilets beside Woolwich market for one recently when waiting for a bus homes and my daughter suddenly needed to go).
However given these are already up for rent makes it nigh on impossible it’ll be a public toilet again. It remains to be seen what will emerge.
Being in the heart of Greenwich close to Greewich Park, Cutty Sark and the National Maritime Museum. They could possibly be used by local artist as a studio/Gallery or other art and craft businesses. I guess a lit depends on the how High the rent and business rates will be?
Architect, Laura Jane Clark(e) turned a Crystal Palace public convenience into her home and lived there for a while. I have to say that I would be nervous about coming home after dark and descending into a hole in the ground. Use as a public or semi-public sphere is a much better idea.
Nothing to be ashamed in taking photos of public toilets. When I take street photos, even in areas densely packed with tourists and londoners where no nobody is being singled out in my wide shots, I feel a bit embarrassed because I feel like I should ask the consent of everyone, even if they are only barely visible. And I avoid including kids, or groups of women.
A public building or facility with no one in the shot? Absolutely nothing to be ashamed of.
The real shame is the fact they are being closed instead of being refurbished and maintained. It’s not just young kids, elderly and people with a condition who can have an emergency. It can happen to everybody. And the most vulnerable likely end up moving less.
@Gius: I try very hard not to get people in my photos and have hung around for ages in order to do so. Sometimes I give up, though.
Dan Dann might find a use for the place.