The downstairs water closet (WC) was a room which had seen several attempts to update it. The last being around 1940, when it is thought that the Vicarage may have taken in or at least hosted some evacuees. The graffiti on the back wall as well as the adjustment to the downstairs toilet, in particular the creation of a cubicle in this large space bear testament to this, in that, this house moved from a single family to perhaps a more eclectic mix.
What must be made clear, to the reader, is that the original Victorian WC was both the WC and the cloakroom combined. And the archway was originally the one and only doorway in to this cavernous WC. Quite simply we created the cloakroom by placing a stud wall, one Third of the way from the window. Removed the original door and created an arch. We didn’t stop there though, we took that redundant door and frame and created a doorway from the cloakroom into the new Morning room.
Restoration
Window – The window is original to the house and has been repaired and new furniture added to it. the main concern here was removing the 1940s toilet cubicle the wooden wall of this had been fixed to the centre support of the window. However, in the end this unscrewed with no great drama.
Renovation
New floor – The floorboards had suffered severely over the years with what can only be described as chaps missing their mark! The floor was lifted and some boards were saved. These are being used in other rooms. This is excellent news as the boards are of the same wood, age and coloration, so minimising the work of trying to blend them in.
Interior design
Having reorientated the WC, it was time to give it a royal flush! This was started by removing the low level WC and installing one with a high-level flush.
The tiles used in the WC are both bold with a stunning and Green and Black crossed motif, they were sourced from the Owen Jones, V&A range. These have been used as a splash back on the sink and also as a highlight under the window. This is quite striking when the door is left open. As the tile is so dominant, they can quite quickly dominate a small room such as a WC. We feel that the accents used, do not detract from the other features of the room.
These tiles are replicas of the original tiles which appeared in the Alhambra Court of the Crystal Palace, Sydenham until its destruction by fire in 1936. After the fire tiles were salvaged and made into fire surrounds by local people. A restored example can be found by searching on the V&A site for “The Alhambra Court fire surround”. Original drawings can be seen in the 1856 book by Owen Jones, “Grammar of Ornament”.
The shelf over the sink and toilet roll holder, both are brass and finished in nickel silver. They were exactly what we were looking for and came from Stiffkey bathrooms in Norwich, who have some amazing antique and vintage and bathroom pieces. The fret work on the candle-holders (or perhaps if they were in an upstairs bathroom, you might see them as tumbler holders) has an arch too which compliments the arches throughout the house. For some tongue-in-cheek humour, we also have placed a small brass plaque by the taps.
Companies and trades people used in the commission of the room
British Ceramic Tiles – V&A Owen Jones, Green and Black decor
MAM Tiling – Littleport
Stiffkey bathrooms – Norwich
The Old Vicarage B&B, Little Ouse 