Instant Bathroom (1966)

Carshalton, Surrey

This British Pathé newsreel (Film ID: 1789.2) documents the installation of a prefabricated bathroom onto a row of houses in Carshalton, Surrey. The footage begins with shots of modest back gardens and cramped interiors, including a tin bath in the kitchen and an outdoor toilet, highlighting the limited facilities typical of many homes at the time. A crane then lifts a fully assembled bathroom unit into place over the rooftops, lowering it carefully onto the rear of the house. The film concludes with interior views of the newly fitted bathroom and kitchen unit, showcasing modern conveniences such as a proper bath, toilet and wash basin, symbolising post-war improvements in domestic living standards.