Garderobes

A garderobe is a term used in medieval architecture to describe a private toilet or latrine in castles, palaces, and monasteries. The word derives from Old French garderobe, originally meaning a wardrobe or closet, and in English it came to denote a small room with a waste outlet.

Construction and layout: A garderobe was typically a small chamber built into an exterior wall, often in a tower or near living quarters. It housed a seat or hole that released waste into a vertical shaft, which led to a cesspit, a drainage channel, or, in many cases, a moat. The opening was usually vented with a grille or narrow slit and sometimes sheltered by a hood to protect against rain.

Placement and function: Garderobes were designed to separate waste from living areas while using gravity to dispose of it. The discharge point could be a cesspit, a drain, or directly into a moat, with regional and architectural variations. Over time, some garderobes shared walls with kitchens or other service areas, and ventilation was a common concern to mitigate odors and pests.

Decline and legacy: With the development of more advanced sanitation systems in the early modern period, garderobes were gradually replaced by integrated plumbing or removed entirely in later renovations. The term persists in historical texts and in some languages where it can still refer to wardrobes, reflecting the original sense of a closet rather than a toilet. Surviving examples in medieval buildings are often altered but remain notable features of their architecture.