A MUSEUM that is home to an iconic public urinal has taken delivery of an outside toilet door.

Beamish, the open air museum that records the region’s industrial heritage, houses the famous Westoe Netty, which featured in a well-known painting by artist Bob Olley.

Now it has been given a door that was discovered at a house in South Shields, a short distance from where the Westoe Netty stood for many years.

It was saved for posterity by Ron Bown, of AAG Archaeology, who were carrying out a survey before refurbishment work started on a house in Beach Road.

Project manager Jon Welsh said: "The netty door from Beach Road is a significant find as it typifies the regional netty door.

“The door is painted in the shade of green commonly seen on fixtures and fittings of the Victorian and subsequent periods.

“There is a row of one inch holes across the top of the door for light and ventilation and the word "Toilet" lovingly hand-painted on the door in a scrolling script.

“As well as a latch and an external bolt to stop the door banging in the wind a pin still remains on the inside to hang a calendar, toilet paper of the traditional Old Moore's Almanac.

“Signs of the strap hinges being replaced suggest a long period of use. The door is still solid, having been expertly made from 14/16 inch planks."

Mr Olley, a former miner, said: "So many must have gone on bonfires over the years, it's good to know there's one left to make it into a museum.”

A spokeswoman for the museum said the door would stay in its large collection of artefacts until a use could be found for it.