How far was a privy from colonial era homes? Were they built of red brick?

[FreeBirdTim]

I was metal detecting about 100 feet from a cellar hole today and uncovered some chunks of red brick. Also found an iron spoon bowl there. Could this be a privy? Would the bricks be right under the surface? Did they put outhouses that far from the house? Any input would be appreciated.

 

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[smokeythecat]

I heard about 30 to 35' from the back door. Not too far to get to in the winter time.

 

[Bass]

The privy is likely much closer than 100 feet. Regardless, whatever you found is still worth investigating

 

[FreeBirdTim]

Thanks, guys. I'll dig up the whole area as soon as it stops snowing here, which will probably be May or June!

 

[Upstate Rich]

Sometimes they had the "Winter" crapper in the celler,if they were well to do ,old factories and apt building sometimes had basement crappers..
bricks,brick fill, stone old barrels charcoal coal,.etc,100ft away would be signs of a dump,no way to know unless you dig it...

The privy tends to be 10 to 20 ft from the house...in a spot for the wind to carry off the smells ...
old gardens are a good privy location that are located in back of a celler,old onion patchs....
really think of if you lived there back then ,...ya had to go bad ,dysentery ,cumsumption etc etc..lol,you would want that crapper close....cause back then they diddnt know better...

 

[G.A.P.metal]

In side the house in cold weather/nite time most had "Chamber Pots" in the day time you emptied them into the outhouse ..."Chamber Pots" are very collectible now days.
The out house is always downhill from the well and on/or the outer side the house around 50 ft. out.
Gary

 

[FreeBirdTim]

Dug it up a little yesterday and found bits of clam shells, so probably a dump site. I'll have to go back with a manly shovel and do some serious digging. There's a large tree that's grown over the area, so it's going to be tough going. I won't get excited until I find some pottery shards or broken glass. Could have potential or it could be nothing...

 

[G.A.P.metal]

The Book
"200 feet to the Outhouse" By Willie Makeit and Betty Doant !

 

[Upstate Rich]

Clam ,oyster shells, sounds like a older dump,...dig it up!!!

 

[devldog]

I would say that a Privy was about as far away from the house that a full bladder would allow.

 

[FreeBirdTim]

Yeah, walking 100 feet in a snowstorm to go the can would be pretty cruel!

 

[Dug]

There's a large tree that's grown over the area, so it's going to be tough going. ...

Inexpensive cordless saw from H.F. may be in order.