ArtsLav was an arts venue located at Kennington Cross in Kennington, London, England. It started life as an underground Victorian gentlemen's public lavatory. It is now a listed and restored Kennington landmark used as a community arts facility, Artslav. Engineered by B. Finch and Co. in 1898. It went out of commission in 1988 during a period of public convenience closures in Lambeth.
Original features included marble urinals, three cubicles, a glass water tank, a mosaic floor from the 1960s, an attendant's booth, a ventilator shaft and horse trough.
History
Charlie Chaplin is thought to have used the lavatory during his childhood, and writes about sitting nearby when locked out of his home.[1]
The lavatory was featured on Disappearing London[2] in January 2006, an ITV programme that highlighted endangered London landmarks.[3] After campaigning, led by Celia Stothard a local resident, and extensive fundraising, fundamental repairs were carried our with electricity and water being re-installed in 2013.[4][5]
From 2013 until 2017, it functioned as a local community arts centre and a base for community employment projects. It became a Community Interest Company run by local residents and artists.[6]
In 2018, the local authority leased the structure to a commercial wine bar group, Bermondsey Arts Club.[7]
Features
In 2001, Lambeth Council described it as containing the following features of architectural and historical interest:
A fine stone cattle trough erected by the Metropolitan Drinking Trough Association in the 19th century (c.1880) – supported on four sturdy stone pillars.
Elegant black painted cast iron railings enclosing the stairway down to the former public lavatory beneath.
An imposing ventilation pipe over 6 meters in height – also of cast iron, mounted on a substantial black painted metal plinth.[8]
