Durdham Downs is an area of leisure and enjoyment in Bristol used by families, walkers, nature lovers, sightseers, joggers, fitness groups, football clubs and those attending the many events which take place on this protected park on the edge of our city.

There is only one public convenience in this area of Bristol. The Victorian toilet building on Stoke Road is notable because of its Blue Plaque, one of the highest civic honours, awarded to Victoria Hughes, the attendant of this building for more than 30 years until the 1960s.

Her book, Ladies’ Mile, published in 1977, relates the ‘remarkable and shocking’ story of twilight Bristol and is centred around these toilets. Based on diaries written during her employment there, she describes the comings and goings of various characters and how she befriended regular users who were mainly working girls. Her own story is only a little less remarkable, overcoming antipathy from in-laws, her husband’s disabilities and poverty of the post-war years. Despite the book’s popularity it has been out of print for many years.

The exterior of this famous - or should it be infamous - Stoke Road toilet is in a particularly run-down state. Money needs to be expended urgently to improve its appearance and halt further deterioration, making it more pleasant for users while bringing its historic and scandalous story back into circulation.

To this end I have recently obtained a licence from the Intellectual Property Office to reprint Ladies’ Mile and it is my intention to put the proceeds from the book sales towards the refurbishment of the toilet. My current licence allows for the reprint of just 200 copies but the proceeds would not allow much in the way of refurbishment!

Printing and selling a larger quantity of, say, 2000 copies, would make better economic sense and provide a profit in the region of £9000. However, for that number of copies another licence fee of almost £2000 would be payable to the IPO plus printing costs of £4000. This is too much for me to fund personally which is why I am asking for your donations.

With your help, the story of Ladies’ Mile will make a welcome return to the public’s awareness - and greater sales of the book means that more money will be available for the toilet’s upkeep. It’s a cycle in which you can play an important part so please donate to allow the story of Ladies’ Mile to be told once again.

Visitors to this gem of a toilet will benefit from its greatly-needed refurbishment and your donation will mean those who use the Downs, and the greater community in this most pleasant green area of our city, will ensure the future of this renowned building and restore pride in the area. Please don't allow these toilets to decay further. Donate now to enable Victoria's book to be republished so that this compelling story of the building can be told.

Any donation, however small, is very welcome.

Thank you so much.