VICTORIAN two-holed lavatory seat and an example of an earth closet are among exhibits in a display called ‘Clean and Decent’ at the West Somerset Rural Life Museum in Allerford.

The Rev Henry Moule, of Fordington, in Dorset, invented and patented the earth closet in 1873 as he was concerned by the possible link between cholera and his parishioners’ toilet hygiene.

He discovered that dry earth mixed with human waste produced clean compost in just a few weeks.

The hopper behind the seat is filled with sifted dry earth, and a simple pull of the handle deposits sufficient earth to cover the human waste.

It was such a success that it became widely used – even Queen Victoria used an earth closet in Windsor Castle – and was exported to the USA.

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The museum is open from Tuesday to Saturday 10.30am to 4pm and Sunday 1.30pm to 4.30pm. Free parking is available opposite.