Silly Question Cont’d

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    • #704688
      john white
      Participant

      Hi there

      Remember I asked about those quadrant shaped flat pieces of stone in the corners of the Custom’s House Exterior?

      Rory I think sugested they were to stop people urinating in corners[the stones slope down toward the trousers]. That seems like a good theory to me.

      We were in Venice again last week and my girlfiriend and I spotted a HUGE one not far from Corso Nuovo. It’s about 4 feet in radius! and almost touching the ground. Very steep angle. I don’t know – my girlfriend suggested it’s a structural support.

      Unless it’s for stopping elephants…

      Who knows how some of these features come about. I presume lots of them start in a mundane fashion and then become encorporated into newer deigns when the original purpose is forgotten. Sometimes becoming decorative in themselves.

      Any thoughts?
      John

    • #712867
      Hugh Pearman
      Participant

      You get these pieces occasionally in London, too – the Victorians did them in iron as well as stone, to fill in corners on public stairways etc. They are certainly anti-urination devices, and very effective – perhaps they should be revived.

      Examples to be seen as you step down from Tower Bridge towards Conranland on the south bank of the thames.

    • #712868
      john white
      Participant

      Thanks Hugh. Hmmm… I wonder why the one in Venice was huge?

      Read your article in The Times. Was you wasn’t it? About the Pevsner-ish guide to Churches? I enjoyed it. I think we need something similar here. At least.

      Cheerio
      John

    • #712869
      Rory W
      Participant

      John,

      You are so right about bringing them back. I also think that someone should invent a corner in Temple Bar that Vomits back at you (That’ll teach ya for drinking too much!!!)

      RORY W

    • #712870
      john white
      Participant

      Is there a substance that repels vomit at speed?

      John

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