The Big Stink

[lankeela]

watched this two parter this week and it was one of the most interesting programmes I have seen for many years. I found it rivetting and couldn't wait for part 2. All about the sewage from London flowing into the Thames and in 1858 the year of a major heatwave which caused the smell from the Thames to permeate all over the city. The result of this was the building of the sewage system under the city.

[Atheist]

The politicos didn't act until the stench was so bad that they couldn't enjoy their lunch on the HOC terrace. And the peasants were dropping like flies, so the crossing sweeps weren't keeping the toffs' spats clean. Mind you, the build-up of sound-muffling mulch was good for the toffs' lie-ins and the royals' last gasps after good reigns or good nights at the club.
It was an interesting programme. Well done, Mr Bazalgette.

[jno]

Bazalgette also designed Hammersmith bridge, which has been out of action for yonks because nobody waant to pay for its upkeep (but is a striking design) and the interior of the Crossness Pumping station, which is like a cathedral

https://tinyurl.com/436ze56n

Funny, he became a knight for being one of London's greatest benefactors ever. His great great grandson Peter is also a knight ... for introducing Big Brother on TV. How values change.

[nescio]

As Stephen Fry noted on QI several years ago,
It is strange to think that after Joseph Bazalgette’s remarkable feat in cleaning up London and getting rid of the Big Stink, his great-great-grandson is now pumping *** into our homes…

[jno]

lol

[237SJ]

Seems it's gone full circle. https://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/news/23269482.thames-water-proposes-swap-water-sewage-teddington-lock/

[MissTerious2]

Agree Lankeela. One of the best programmes I have seen in years. We need more television like that.

[jno]

replacing treated sewage water with untreated sewage water maybe, 237SJ...

https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/23071947.raw-sewage-dumped-river-thames-oxfordshire-thames-water/

I don't trust Thames Water at all. That said, they've spent the last 20 years or so upgrading pipes all over London that seem to have been Bazalgette's originals, and are putting in a new super sewer along the river in London.

[MissTerious2]

Jno the super sewer featured in the program. Amazing,

[jno]

ah, right, I haven't seen it. It seems to be still under construction - I think jno jnr can see bits of it from his skyscraper flat.

[KUSTARD]

It looked a really interesting programme but I was frightened of watching it because I have an awfully weak stomach and was frightened of retching all the way through it!!! Do you think I can risk it?

[rowanwitch]

It's so interesting you should be fine. I watch a lot of history programmes, and I am fascinated by early engineering so for me it was a good watch.

[douglas9401]

Big thinkers with big ideas and the drive to get them done.

Where did they all go?

[MissTerious2]

Jno. The presenter was actually taken down into the sewer so viewers can see what's going on and how it's been joined up with the existing system. Very worth watching on catch up TV.

[sddsddean]

I used to live in SE London and my great grandfather (who I never met) was one of the guys who worked the Crossness pumping engines...my grandad used to tell me about him. Crossness used to have an open day (don't know if they still do) and one of the old hands down there was explaining how the primary screens get rid of things like tree branches , dead dogs etc, but in the 50's they used regularly to get babies corpses turn up...very upsetting for them.