The very first locations for the underground conveniences were chosen because of their central position and that they were secluded. The key to having privacy and seclusion was obviously placing the facilities underground but above ground shrubbery played a large part in ‘hiding’ patrons from the public as they entered the facilities.
The local authority worked hard to supply the shrubs to create the secluded access ways into the facilities and the City Engineer was proud of the work around this – Manor Place urinal was described “an object of beauty – draped as it is in lovely native shrubs” in 1919.
Even in the 1940s, you can see the Octagon is largely grass and flowerbeds except for the side with the toilet entrances – these have shrubs.
Shurbbery was important to the ideal that these facilities were not obvious or seen – this attitude did change over the 20th Century.