Where Was the Toilet on Old Sailing Ships?

On old sailing ships, the toilet facilities, commonly known as the "head," were strategically located based on rank and the design of the vessel. Crew members typically used facilities situated at the very front of the ship, while officers and the captain had more private accommodations at the rear.

Crew Lavatories

For the general crew, lavatory facilities were primarily located on either side of the bow of the ship. The bow is the forward-most part of the hull. These areas were often open, allowing the sea to wash through and clean the area with each wave, serving as a basic and functional sanitation system for the majority of the ship's company.

Officer and Captain's Facilities

Higher-ranking individuals, such as the captain and officers, had their lavatories in more secluded areas. These were generally found:

• In the stern area: The stern is the rear-most part of the ship.
• Within quarter galleries: These were small projections or extensions on the sides of the stern, often ornately decorated, which provided a private space with a hole directly into the sea below.

While the fundamental function of these facilities was the same, those located in the stern or quarter galleries offered significantly more privacy compared to the more exposed crew facilities at the bow. This distinction in location and privacy reflected the hierarchy on board the vessel.

Here's a summary of the typical locations: