Another of Bazalgette’s red brick creations the Clapham Storm Relief serves both the Southern High Level Sewer No*1 and the Balham & Clapham Extension interceptors, carrying the flow from its overflow/infall in Clapham to its outfall in Vauxhall.

The Beverley Brook Storm Relief Overflow, a 10ft concrete diversion culvert constructed in 1934 after its younger 8ft counterpart (Beverley Brook Storm Relief Culvert, 1925) proved insufficent during severe flooding in 1931. These two, accompanied with several weirs and flow control gates now form the Beverley Brook Flood Protection Scheme.

When it rains, go in drains! When it rains, don’t go in drains! I’ve heard it both ways, and sure each has merit but it depends where you are. Draining mostly in london I’ve become complacent that 90% of the time the water level is going to stay the same. The other 10% however is [...]

The first project of a modern sewer system for Milan was proposed to the City Council in 1868 by engineer Felice Poggi and those at Cesa Bianchi and Bignam. However this project would only cover Milan’s older ”downtown” district and excluded the outskirts past the canals and city wall. Construction was slow and arduous, taking [...]

Oh Italy, to say i have fond memories of her would be a lie. When i last visited her shores the trip met with a very abrupt end involving metro security guards shouting lots of loud angry gibberish while brandishing guns, more police then you can count on your fingers and a night in the [...]

‘Official’ photographs of sewers are sometimes fairly scarce on the net, this is especially true for London. Those found have always contained recognisable sections of well trodden locations such as the Fleet or Westbourne, nothing left to the imagination.