Polite and Excremental Labour? London's Nightmen c. 1650 - 1840

The Eighteenth Century Studies Seminar with speaker Dr Mark Jenner (University of York).

In the centuries before interconnecting sewers, much of the metropolis relied on the work of nightmen to remove the excrement which accumulated in the cesspits under or behind their property. This paper focuses on these sanitary servants, recovering their work practices, exploring the cultural resonance of their labour, and examining the visual and graphic languages by which they marketed themselves.

For further information please contact a member of the Committee:
Gregorio Alonso G.Alonso@leeds.ac.uk; Richard Bellis ph10rtb@leeds.ac.uk; Kerry Bristol K.A.C.Bristol@leeds.ac.uk; Valerie Mainz v.s.mainz@leeds.ac.uk; Peter Maw P.Maw@leeds.ac.uk