Jacobs Boxes

[Sellergarth]

I came across a reference in the Borough Accounts of 1883 to the number of `WC`s and Jacobs Boxes`that were in existence at that time in my area. Does anyone have any idea what a `Jacobs Box` was? I can find no information on the internet, so am wondering if it was something particular to my locality. Thanks.

[woofgang]

toilets in Elizabethan time were known as "jakes", no idea why, maybe its a posher version?

[treetops68]

Jacobs Boxes wouldn't have been the older nightsoil type toilets would they?

[Sellergarth]

Thanks both for taking the time to reply.
Treetops68 could you tell me a little more about the nightsoil type toilets please?
Thanks.

[Mosaic]

Water closets are cleaned by flushing water that usually enters a main sewer or more rarely a septic tank.
A rarely-surviving variant on the water closet is the tippler. Waste eater from the house was piped into a pivoted cast iron tank which when full to a certain level automatically tipped over and flushed the outside toilet.
Earth closets, often called privies, stood over a hole or cesspit and these had to be dug out periodically. In the countryside this accounted for the rich soil in cottage gardens, but in cities they led to health problems. Nightsoil men would be hired to dig out and cart away the sewage.
In some towns a system of back-yard 'bucket' toilets was used. This may be the type referred to in your document but I haven't ever heard the phrase 'Jacob's boxes' before. This was a system of standardised galvanised metal tubs. A tub sat under the loo seat. Hopefully frequently, the nightsoil men would remove these through a special low hatch and empty them onto their cart. Aka honeybuckets.
Nightsoil - on account of this offensive activity being done at night so as to make use of the quieter streets and fewer people.

[Mosaic]

I have no idea how eater got into that answer. Makes no sense. Haunted keyboard. Should be water

[Mags22]

Never heard of 'honey buckets' but have heard them called'thunderbuckets' !

[Sellergarth]

Thanks Mosaic, thought it should read `water`.
Just wondering if Jacobs Boxes could be some sort of ash pit and not a toilet? Still can`t find any reference to either though.