Tweet
LONDON
Birthplace of the Modern Sewer
There are no tours of London's Victorian sewers, but the intrepid sewersouir can visit a number of historic curiosities. See Swopnet for a comprehensive history on the London sewers.
Bust of Sir Joseph Bazalgette
Location: Victoria Embankment - far west end
Cost: Free
Sir Joseph Bazalgette built 82 miles of 'interception sewers' along the banks of the Thames taming London's byzantine disease ridden sewers. Known as the Victoria Embankment on the north side and Albert Embankment on the south, the muddy flood-prone banks became parks on the top and sewers and subways underneath. Bagazelle's bust looks proudly over his cholera-stopping handiwork. Of course, it seems like if you crossed the street AND looked both ways in 1888, the Victorians would have probably erected a statue of you.
London Dungeon
Location: 28/34 Tooley Street
Website: www.dungeons.co.uk(complete directions, etc.)
Cost: £12.95 (~$20)
If you really want to spend twenty bucks on a tourist trap, please do. I didn't have the cash, (no freebies for ooze) but there's a simulated Victorian sewer ride where you witness an animatronic Jack the Ripper kill a lady. Probably the only regular sewer tour of sorts in the city.
Fleet Street
Location: Fleet Street in the central business district
The Fleet River meandered through the heart of London dumping into the Thames. As London's population grew, it became a notoriously filthy craphole known as the Fleet Ditch. By the mid-18th century the city created a sewer by covering over the river and creating Fleet Street.Today you can walk along the street and imagine it as a big open sewer.
The Crossness Pumping Station
Location: Belvedere Road, Abbey Wood, London SE2
Website: www.crossness.org.uk
Cost: £3
Note: Only open by appointment only, on 24 days of the year. Call 020 8311 3711 on Tuesday or Sunday between 9.00am and 4.00pm. See website for more details.
The Crossness Pumping Station was built by Sir Joseph Bazalgette of Victoria embankment fame. The building features some nifty ornamental ironwork and still contains the four original pumping engines used to keep the system flowing.The group responsible for the resoration of this landmark hopes to establish a Museum of Sanitation Engineering. [Photo from their website. Ooze has not yet visited site.]
Birthplace of the Modern Sewer
There are no tours of London's Victorian sewers, but the intrepid sewersouir can visit a number of historic curiosities. See Swopnet for a comprehensive history on the London sewers.
Bust of Sir Joseph Bazalgette
Location: Victoria Embankment - far west end
Cost: Free
Sir Joseph Bazalgette built 82 miles of 'interception sewers' along the banks of the Thames taming London's byzantine disease ridden sewers. Known as the Victoria Embankment on the north side and Albert Embankment on the south, the muddy flood-prone banks became parks on the top and sewers and subways underneath. Bagazelle's bust looks proudly over his cholera-stopping handiwork. Of course, it seems like if you crossed the street AND looked both ways in 1888, the Victorians would have probably erected a statue of you.
London Dungeon
Location: 28/34 Tooley Street
Website: www.dungeons.co.uk(complete directions, etc.)
Cost: £12.95 (~$20)
If you really want to spend twenty bucks on a tourist trap, please do. I didn't have the cash, (no freebies for ooze) but there's a simulated Victorian sewer ride where you witness an animatronic Jack the Ripper kill a lady. Probably the only regular sewer tour of sorts in the city.
Fleet Street
Location: Fleet Street in the central business district
The Fleet River meandered through the heart of London dumping into the Thames. As London's population grew, it became a notoriously filthy craphole known as the Fleet Ditch. By the mid-18th century the city created a sewer by covering over the river and creating Fleet Street.Today you can walk along the street and imagine it as a big open sewer.
The Crossness Pumping Station
Location: Belvedere Road, Abbey Wood, London SE2
Website: www.crossness.org.uk
Cost: £3
Note: Only open by appointment only, on 24 days of the year. Call 020 8311 3711 on Tuesday or Sunday between 9.00am and 4.00pm. See website for more details.
The Crossness Pumping Station was built by Sir Joseph Bazalgette of Victoria embankment fame. The building features some nifty ornamental ironwork and still contains the four original pumping engines used to keep the system flowing.The group responsible for the resoration of this landmark hopes to establish a Museum of Sanitation Engineering. [Photo from their website. Ooze has not yet visited site.]