The Thames lies at the heart of London. Without it, the city couldn’t exist and along it lie its iconic landmarks, recognisable around the world.
From the Houses of Parliament in the West to the old Docklands, now Canary Wharf in the East, the Thames defines the geography of our city.
In fact, the people of London have been shaped by their relationship with water. But throughout history they have also shaped that water.
The Thames is fed by at least 50 tributaries from throughout the country. It was perhaps inevitable that such an important settlement would be situated on such a vital river.
As the centuries of London’s history wore on, the city grew as human ingenuity and engineering worked to manipulate the river to human benefit.
History
The people with perhaps the greatest impact on the river were the Victorians.
Today marks 200th anniversary of Queen Victoria, who’s people, the Victorians, perhaps had the greatest impact on the city and the river.
It was during this period that the Port of London became the world’s largest port, dominating much of East London.
But perhaps the greatest achievement of Londoners over the river is it’s Victorian Sewage system.
Underneath the city, lie over 2000 km of brick tunnels taking raw sewage from Londoner’s homes.
Designed by Sir Joseph Bazalgette, the system, built in the mid-19th century is still relied on by the City over 150 years later.
Before Bazalgette’s designs, raw sewage seeped straight into the River Thames, turning it into a stinking open sewer. The edges of the river became covered with thick, untreated human and industrial waste.
The increasingly wide use of the new flushing toilets made the problem worse, overwhelming cesspits and causing more waste to flow into the river.
At the time, the City’s population numbered over 2 million. The sheer amount of raw sewage meant London regularly suffered from outbreaks of cholera, killing thousands.
The Victorians didn’t know the cure. It was widely believed breathing in ‘miasma’ or contaminated air – caused disease and death.
This was when London-based physician Dr John Snow put forward the theory that the disease was water-borne, but he was ignored. The year 1853 saw cholera claim a further 10, 738 victims.
The Great Stink
The great stink was what caused the change.
The summer of 1858 saw temperatures averaging 35 degrees Celsius. The stench from the Thames – the ‘Great Stink’ – became so awful it impacted the goings on of Parliament and saw Londoner’s literally pegging their noses.
A new sewage system was built and when completed in the mid-1870s, the new sewage network’s enclosed design virtually eliminated cholera. Dr John Snow’s theory about cholera being a water-borne disease was correct, although he died at the height of the Great Stink without knowing that he had been vindicated.
Integral to Bazalgette’s plans was the construction of four major pumping stations in gothic design.
The magnificent Crossness pumping station raised the waste into a reservoir using four enormous powerful beam engines named Victoria, Prince Consort, Albert Edward and Alexandra. From here it was released into the Thames well beyond London and taken out to sea.
The Thames Tideway
London’s 150 year old sewage system is today struggling under the strain of the city’s ever increasing population – now nearly 9 million.
Millions of tons of raw sewage still spills untreated into the Thames each year, especially after extreme weather.
That’s where Tideway comes in. Finally an update may be coming.
They’re in the process building a ‘super sewer’ – the Thames Tideway Tunnel – to relieve the pressure on the old system.
It will run under London for 25 kilometres, from Acton in the west to Beckton in the east, at depths of between 30 and 60 metres, using gravity to transfer the waste eastwards for treatment. It is due for completion in 2024.
As part of the super sewer project, a new embankment is planned for the river by Blackfriars Bridge. The public open space will be named Bazalgette Embankment in honour of Sir Joseph Bazalgette.
Short HeadlineLondon's struggling Victorian Sewage System.
StandfirstIt's over 150 years old and now a new 'super sewer' is being developed to aid the old system.
The Thames lies at the heart of London. Without it, the city couldn’t exist and along it lie its iconic landmarks, recognisable around the world.
From the Houses of Parliament in the West to the old Docklands, now Canary Wharf in the East, the Thames defines the geography of our city.
In fact, the people of London have been shaped by their relationship with water. But throughout history they have also shaped that water.
The Thames is fed by at least 50 tributaries from throughout the country. It was perhaps inevitable that such an important settlement would be situated on such a vital river.
As the centuries of London’s history wore on, the city grew as human ingenuity and engineering worked to manipulate the river to human benefit.
History
The people with perhaps the greatest impact on the river were the Victorians.
Today marks 200th anniversary of Queen Victoria, who’s people, the Victorians, perhaps had the greatest impact on the city and the river.
It was during this period that the Port of London became the world’s largest port, dominating much of East London.
But perhaps the greatest achievement of Londoners over the river is it’s Victorian Sewage system.
Underneath the city, lie over 2000 km of brick tunnels taking raw sewage from Londoner’s homes.
Designed by Sir Joseph Bazalgette, the system, built in the mid-19th century is still relied on by the City over 150 years later.
Before Bazalgette’s designs, raw sewage seeped straight into the River Thames, turning it into a stinking open sewer. The edges of the river became covered with thick, untreated human and industrial waste.
The increasingly wide use of the new flushing toilets made the problem worse, overwhelming cesspits and causing more waste to flow into the river.
At the time, the City’s population numbered over 2 million. The sheer amount of raw sewage meant London regularly suffered from outbreaks of cholera, killing thousands.
The Victorians didn’t know the cure. It was widely believed breathing in ‘miasma’ or contaminated air – caused disease and death.
This was when London-based physician Dr John Snow put forward the theory that the disease was water-borne, but he was ignored. The year 1853 saw cholera claim a further 10, 738 victims.
The Great Stink
The great stink was what caused the change.
The summer of 1858 saw temperatures averaging 35 degrees Celsius. The stench from the Thames – the ‘Great Stink’ – became so awful it impacted the goings on of Parliament and saw Londoner’s literally pegging their noses.
A new sewage system was built and when completed in the mid-1870s, the new sewage network’s enclosed design virtually eliminated cholera. Dr John Snow’s theory about cholera being a water-borne disease was correct, although he died at the height of the Great Stink without knowing that he had been vindicated.
Integral to Bazalgette’s plans was the construction of four major pumping stations in gothic design.
The magnificent Crossness pumping station raised the waste into a reservoir using four enormous powerful beam engines named Victoria, Prince Consort, Albert Edward and Alexandra. From here it was released into the Thames well beyond London and taken out to sea.
The Thames Tideway
London’s 150 year old sewage system is today struggling under the strain of the city’s ever increasing population – now nearly 9 million.
Millions of tons of raw sewage still spills untreated into the Thames each year, especially after extreme weather.
That’s where Tideway comes in. Finally an update may be coming.
They’re in the process building a ‘super sewer’ – the Thames Tideway Tunnel – to relieve the pressure on the old system.
It will run under London for 25 kilometres, from Acton in the west to Beckton in the east, at depths of between 30 and 60 metres, using gravity to transfer the waste eastwards for treatment. It is due for completion in 2024.
As part of the super sewer project, a new embankment is planned for the river by Blackfriars Bridge. The public open space will be named Bazalgette Embankment in honour of Sir Joseph Bazalgette.
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