Durdham Down is one of Bristol’s most precious open spaces, serving a wide range of users from families and dog walkers to sports clubs and people attending events. The Victorian toilet building on Stoke Road, near the Water Tower, remains the only public convenience in this part of the city and plays a quietly essential role in supporting access to the Downs.
The building is also notable for its Blue Plaque, awarded to Victoria Hughes, who worked there as a cloakroom attendant between 1929 and 1962. Victoria recorded her experiences in diaries, which she later published in 1977 as ‘Ladies’ Mile’. The book provides a vivid and sometimes unsettling account of daily life in this part of Bristol during the Great Depression and post-war years.
After many years out of print, Ladies’ Mile was brought back into circulation following a crowdfunding campaign led by Kerris Harrop, who was keen to ensure that this important record of 20th-century Bristol life was not lost. Members of SMV supported the campaign, which resulted in a faithful reprint retaining Victoria’s original text and front cover.
Sales of the book initially raised £7,000 towards repair costs for the toilets, and since then, a further £3,500 has been generated through ongoing sales, providing additional funding for the improvement works.
The refurbishment itself has been notable for the level of goodwill it has attracted. The builders from Consort Services who were responsible for restoring the toilets were so engaged with the project and the conservation of this important historic facility that they carried out some of the work in their own time.
Interest in Victoria’s account of daily life in this part of Bristol during the Great Depression and post-war years continues to grow, and Kerris Harrop is currently scheduled to speak at 16 public events around the city.
Jonathon Baker, Master of SMV and a member of the Downs Committee, said: “The Downs are cherished by so many people across the city and together the book and the refurbishment highlight how community involvement, local history and practical conservation can support the upkeep of Bristol’s historic amenities.”
Ladies’ Mile can be purchased at BristolRead Books, and all proceeds from book sales are directed towards the refurbishment of the Victorian cloakroom and toilets.
Photo caption: The project team from Consort Services with The Right Honourable Lord Mayor of Bristol Councillor Henry Michallat (centre); Kerris Harrop (to the left of the Lord Mayor); Master of SMV Jonathon Baker (to the right of the Lord Mayor); and Downs Area Supervisor Ben Skuse (wearing a blue jacket).
