They block the entrance to an underground building which was once one of many similar buildings commonly found on the streets of Glasgow. The first public urinals were installed during the 1850s in response to the spread of disease in Glasgow’s overcrowded conditions. In 1898, the Tramways Committee agreed to pay five pounds per year for their liveried employees to use the underground public conveniences for free. This coloured plan of the public urinals envisioned at the entrance to Alexandra Park is drawn from the series and dates to January 1909. For example, Glasgow Corporation struggled to find a suitable site in Anniesland until 1930 when one at the outskirts of the cross was chosen.

Source: The Times July 22, 2023 05:41 UTC