Forum Topic

STINKFEST.

The 150th Anniversary of the Great Summer Stink falls this year. 1858 was the year when the Thames was so contaminated with raw sewage, that the House of Commons/Lords had great difficulty in functioning. Eventually after much huffing and puffing from those who baulked on spending money, £2MILLION Pounds, a huge amount in 1858 was allocated to the Great Sewer Project designed by Mr Bazellejet. Just shows you what can be done when politicians have the threat of being engulfed with raw sewage. Our French Friends knew all about that ages ago!

Colin Vaughan ● 6685d5 Comments

Bazalgette - known to his descendents as the "drain brain". One is still in the filth peddling business - runs Big Brother!!

Sara Nathan ● 6685d

But for a totally different reason Sara.

Colin Vaughan ● 6685d

Sir Joseph was also responsible for the current suspension bridge with "little Frenchy pavilion tops" (Pevsner)  opened in 1887 spanning the river between Barnes and Hammersmith.

Philippa Bond ● 6684d

And a very nice bridge it is too.It's a pity that, unlike the sewers, it wasn't future-proofed for more and heavier traffic.Even so, my son thought it was an improvement when it was closed to traffic in the late 1990s as he used the bridge twice daily going to and from school.

Alan Brainsby ● 6684d

I have had a request from the Mogden Residents Action Group asking me to ask if you would kindly post this topic on Brentford - they have tried to reply on Ealing but can't get through 'security' ...  :-)Thanks!

Sarah Felstead ● 6683d