Ever wondered why this distinctive city street was nicknamed Lavatory Lane? | Nostalgia

The first picture today shows one of Portsmouth’s finest roads as most of us have never seen it – with not a vehicle in sight.
By Deborah Croker
Published 2nd Nov 2021, 15:46 BST
Updated 2nd Nov 2021, 15:46 BST
Laburnum Grove, North End, Portsmouth. Laburnum Grove (AKA Lavatory Lane or Brass Button Alley) - Many of the houses in Laburnum Grove are faced with a white glazed brick. These were left over from the building of The Blackwall Tunnel in 1896 and bought by local builder Peter Briggs for a farthing each.Laburnum Grove, North End, Portsmouth. Laburnum Grove (AKA Lavatory Lane or Brass Button Alley) - Many of the houses in Laburnum Grove are faced with a white glazed brick. These were left over from the building of The Blackwall Tunnel in 1896 and bought by local builder Peter Briggs for a farthing each.
Laburnum Grove, North End, Portsmouth. Laburnum Grove (AKA Lavatory Lane or Brass Button Alley) - Many of the houses in Laburnum Grove are faced with a white glazed brick. These were left over from the building of The Blackwall Tunnel in 1896 and bought by local builder Peter Briggs for a farthing each.

It’s Laburnum Grove at North End, also known rather quaintly as Lavatory Lane or Brass Button Alley .

And you may have wondered why many of the houses in this street are faced with a white glazed brick.

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Well, they were left over from the building of The Blackwall Tunnel in London in 1896 and bought by local builder Peter Briggs for a farthing each… hence the Lavatory Lane nickname.

A message from the editor, Mark Waldron.

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