How Plumbing Has Evolved From Roman Baths To Franke Sinks

By Author: Robert Deans
Total Articles: 246
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While plumbing has existed since the ancient civilisations of the Romans and the Greeks, it did not become prevalent until the vast progression of cities in the 19th Century. Ever since then though plumbing has come on leaps and bounds in respect of the way in which waste is managed and homes gain access to clean flowing water, so much in fact we tend to give little thought to the exact mechanisms of the plumbing, we focus on style and appearance. We see companies such as Franke producing sinks and taps that aren't just functional they are also aesthetically pleasing.

Plumbing first appeared at the introduction of public baths. In ancient civilisations bathing was considered a social activity and it was just the more affluent end of society who had use of private baths. Public bathing facilities were accessible for most and various meetings would be held at such facilities.

It was only in the 19th Century when public health authorities began to push for waste disposal systems to be put in did we see any real development in plumbing systems.

Proper sanitation was virtually unheard ...
... of in London through the 18th Century. The vast increase in Britain's population, along with the immense migration from the countryside to towns and cities led London to become a particularly dirty and dangerous place. It was a regular situation for raw sewage to run down the streets.

The wealthy could buy spring water from private companies, however the wealthy during these times were few and far between, and many Londoners were forced to drink water from the Thames. It wasnt just human waste contaminating the Thames, there was chemicals from manufacturing as well as carcusses rotting.

The state of London's water triggered a huge surge in the consumption of Gin. Gin was reasonably priced for most and most importantly not contaminated, it could lead to a level of intoxication that could block out the reality of living in London in the 18th Century. This was a downward spiral into worse poverty as many had damaged their ability to complete a days work.

Thankfully, since the widespread installation of proper plumbing systems, we've come a lot further still. We now are able to fit out our kitchens and bathrooms with stylish Franke sinks and taps, and are blessed with countless other labour saving devices.

A significant volume of these improvements occurred during the 19th Century and as hygiene improved so did health. It wasn't until the very end of the 19th Century that a lot of people had proper plumbing throughout their homes, for those without, household tasks requiring water involved hard labour.

It's hard to appreciate how much of a difference plumbing has made to our standard of living, although many millions of people all over the world still do without. So make the most of what your home is equipped with and ensure that your sinks and taps are of a good quality and look impressive, like the ones supplied by Franke sinks and taps.

This article was written by R.Deans on behalf of the Kitchen Appliance Centre, experts in Franke sinks. For more info on Franke sinks please visit KitchenApplianceCentre.co.uk