Artslav - Kennington Cross
ArtsLav is an arts venue located at Kennington Cross in Kennington, London, England. It started life as an underground Victorian gentlemen's public lavatory. It is now a listed and restored Kennington landmark used as a community arts facility, Artslav. Engineered by B. Finch and Co. in 1898. It went out of commission in 1988 during a period of public convenience closures in Lambeth.
Original features include marble urinals, three cubicles, a glass water tank, a mosaic floor from the 1960s, an attendant's booth, a ventilator shaft and horse trough.
Charlie Chaplin is thought to have used the lavatory his childhood, and writes about sitting nearby when locked out of his home.
The lavatory was featured on Disappearing London in January 2006, an ITV programme that highlighted endangered London landmarks. After campaigning, led by Celia Stothard a local resident, and extensive fundraising fundamental repairs were carried our with electricity and water being re-installed in 2013.
Since 2013 it has functioned as a local community arts centre and a base for community employment projects. It has become a Community Interest Company run by local residents and artists.
There are threats to its existence as the local authority is considering putting it out for commercial use.
In 2001 Lambeth Council described it as containing the following features of architectural and historical interest:
It has been Grade II listed since October 2001.
Coordinates: 51°29′20″N 0°06′40″W / 51.488911°N 0.111038°W
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