Westoe Netty facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Westoe Netty |
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| Artist | Robert Olley |
| Year | 1972 |
The Westoe Netty is a famous painting by Robert Olley. It shows a scene inside a public toilet. The word "Netty" is a local word for toilet in the Geordie dialect. This painting was created in 1972. It has become an important symbol of working-class history in North East England.
Contents
The Artist and His Inspiration
Who Painted The Westoe Netty?
The artist, Robert Olley, used to be a miner. He later became a local artist. His painting was inspired by a real toilet. This toilet was once located in Westoe, South Shields.
What Does The Painting Show?
The painting shows six working-class men and a small boy. They are inside the netty. Workers used this toilet on their way to the nearby Westoe Colliery (a coal mine). The walls of the netty in the painting are covered in funny graffiti. This graffiti includes many local sayings and cultural jokes.
History of the Westoe Netty Toilet
When Was the Original Toilet Built?
The real toilet that inspired the painting was built a long time ago, in 1890.
How Was the Toilet Saved?
In 1996, the area where the toilet stood was going to be redeveloped. This meant the toilet was planned for demolition. But friends of the artist saved it. They carefully took it apart. Then, they stored it in a local shipyard.
Where Is the Toilet Now?
In 2008, the toilet was rebuilt. It became a permanent exhibit at the Beamish Museum in County Durham. It opened on July 25, 2008. For the opening, people even recreated the scene from the painting for the media.
Why Was the Toilet Moved Again?
By 2010, the rebuilt toilet became very popular. However, visitors thought it was a real public toilet. Because of this, it was put into temporary storage. The plan is to move it again when there is enough money. Then, it can be rebuilt and connected to plumbing. This way, it can work as a real urinal.
