The ‘Fools‘ Tower‘
Cell features
Innovation and corrective practice
What was, at first, an innovative building concept was soon updated when the facility was in operation. Each cell had central heating; however, the four furnaces in the basement not only sent up warm air but exhaust gases too. Each cell had its own pit toilet; however, excrement would be carried in tubes - without water – to the basement, where it was collected and fed into the Alserbach stream. Since the tower was built without a water main, it stank abominably. The toilets were soon closed up and chamber pots introduced, which could be emptied on a regular basis.
Image caption: Layout of the basement of the ‘Fools’ Tower’, “Underground”, 1783
a: Four furnaces and pipes for heating b: Lunatic containers, c: Stairs leading to the furnaces, d: Canalisation
Photo © Public domain
