A high level toilet is probably the most traditional looking toilet available. With a cistern mounted high on the wall and connected to the pan by a long flush-pipe, the flush is powerful and operated by a pull-chain and handle. The flush-pipe can be complemented with decorative support brackets under the cistern and is available in different metal-plated finishes for an attractive and well-co-ordinated look.

Unlike authentic period pieces which were made from lead and heavy metals, today's equivalent pan and cistern are usually made from ceramic, although some manufacturers supply cisterns made from steel or cast iron. The cistern must be fixed firmly to the wall - there may be decorative brackets beneath it but you should not rely on these alone to support the weight of the cistern and the water inside.

The flushpipe connects to the cistern flush mechanism inside the cistern and then to the hole at the back of the pan. There is usually a pipe bracket to help keep the pipe secure, and in some cases, as with the Granley high-level toilet from Heritage, the bracket features a rubber stopper which the lid of the seat rests against when it is upright, which protects the plated pipe from being damaged or dented.