Plumber - Andrew Dixon, ATD Plumbing and Heating.
We are all very familiar with the work of plumbers in our homes every time we use the bathroom or run a tap but the trade has a very long history. There is some evidence that the Indus Valley Civilization in around 2600 BCE had bathing areas supplied by pipes and with drains in the floor. And the palace of Nebuchadnezzar in
Babylon in the 7th century BCE had separate bathrooms, elaborate drains and a sewage system. Our word plumber comes from the ancient Roman word for lead, plumbum, which was used to make the piping. We have local examples of Roman bath-houses in the roman forts at Chesters and Corbridge.
Many of the bathroom facilities that we may consider to be fairly modern are surprisingly old. The first flushing toilet was from the 1590's and mechanical showers from the 1760's. All of this time we have needed plumbers to install and maintain these systems.
In many ways our modern plumbers are still essentially doing the same thing. Using modern materials and tools of course, lead can no longer be used because of its toxicity, but its still piping and water they are dealing with. And it is an essential service, not just for our convenience but as an important part of eliminating diseases such as cholera and typhoid.
Babylon in the 7th century BCE had separate bathrooms, elaborate drains and a sewage system. Our word plumber comes from the ancient Roman word for lead, plumbum, which was used to make the piping. We have local examples of Roman bath-houses in the roman forts at Chesters and Corbridge.
Many of the bathroom facilities that we may consider to be fairly modern are surprisingly old. The first flushing toilet was from the 1590's and mechanical showers from the 1760's. All of this time we have needed plumbers to install and maintain these systems.
In many ways our modern plumbers are still essentially doing the same thing. Using modern materials and tools of course, lead can no longer be used because of its toxicity, but its still piping and water they are dealing with. And it is an essential service, not just for our convenience but as an important part of eliminating diseases such as cholera and typhoid.
Plumbing apprenticeships usually take four years, first a Level 2 plumbing apprentice last two years followed by Level 3 apprenticeship for another two years. Once qualified and because it is so universal, we have many plumbers and heating engineers in the Consett area. Our photos are of Andrew Dixon who founded and runs ATD Plumbing and Heating. He set up the company himself and works on his own in the Consett area. He's always busy keeping everyone's home plumbing functioning so we always have a ready supply if water and heating.
