Tag Archives: Bazalgette

1877 : West Kent Drainage scheme

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WEST KENT DRAINAGE SCHEME.

The members of the West Kent Main Sewerage Board on Thursday invited the parochial authorities of Bromley, Beckenham, Bexley, Crayford, Chislehurst, Dartford, and the parishes in the valley of the Cray to an official inspection of the works now in progress at Halfway-street, Eltham. The parishes named have long suffered from want of effective drainage and the means of disposing of their sewerage.

The West Kent Main Drainage Scheme was designed by Sir Joseph Bazalgette, and consists of a sewer 9 miles in length from Beckenham to an outfall in Dartford Marshes, Long Reach, 7 miles below the northern and southern outfalls. It is proposed by Sir J. Bazalgette that the main sewer should be continued from Beckenham westward by Croydon, Mitcham, Merton and Kingston and it will form the out fall for all the towns in the Thames valley. The contract drawings were prepared by Mr Alfred Williams and entreated to Messes John Neave and Son, the contractors. The cost is estimated at £150,000, the time allowed for the completion of the work being two years and a half.

There were on Thursday 8 shafts at work, 4 others being in the course of sinking to the level of the sewer, which is from 40 to 50 feet deep. An important feature of the work is that the sewer is constructed in Portland cement concrete, consisting of ballast 5 parts, sand 1 part, and Portland cement 1, which is one third less cost than brickwork. Nine hundred feet of tunnelling is completed out of 28,100 feet. The length of the Cray Valley Branch Sewer is 34,736 and the total length of the Main Sewer is 58,528 feet. The sewer is egg-shaped, 6 feet by 4, and in one portion is a circular 6ft. sewer, and towards the outfall 5 feet 6. At the outfall the sewage can be discharged at all times. Five hundred men are employed on the work, which is progressing at the rate of 350 feet a week, the actual length under operation by the 12 shafts being 6500 feet.

The Board and visitors had a cold collation at the Black Horse, Sidcup, the gentlemen present being Col. Lennard, J.P., in the chair, R. B. Berens. Esq., J.P., Messrs Beggs, Couchman, and Janson, members of the West Kent Main Sewerage Board. The officers present were Sir Joseph Bazalgette, consulting engineer; Mr May, solicitor; Mr Mullen, clerk of the Board; and Mr Williams, C.E., resident engineer. The visitors present from Croydon Local Board of Health were Messrs Saunders, Coldwell, and Peerless; from Bromley Local Board, Dr Ilott; and the Beckenham Committee, Messrs Cobben, Carpmael, HolifieId, Lovelock and Molyor. Messrs Neave & Son and Mr Fry were also present.

Colonel Lennard said the scheme originated with the Public Health Act, which threw the work on the Bromley Board of Guardians. The Education Act had also been thrown on Boards of Guardians. The willing horse had too much thrown upon it, and sooner or later it would break down. The Bromley Board of Guardians did not wish to be accused of incapacity or idleness, and accepted the drainage work cheerfully. The Guardians had no means to recoup themselves unless the Bill became law, and a number of gentlemen agreed to a guarantee fund, to defray the costs in the event of the Bill not passing. These gentlemen commenced the work with a rope hanging about their necks, and trusted to those employed on the Bill to make their charges small in the event of non-success. They met with opposition at Bromley and Dartford; but it was withdrawn when it became evident that their interests were identical. They were willing that the Dartford, Bromley, and Croydon parishes should join in the scheme upon the same terms as themselves, the Board not wishing to make a profit out of them. Caution and care were necessary in the formation of the scheme, it being essential to avoid pettifogging on the one hand, and of frightening the ratepayers by going on too large a scale on the other hand. He believed the works were being carried on with the goodwill of all parties.

The works had begun at the outfall; but the roads being impassable, the Board proposed shortly to visit it by water, embarking at Erith.

Sir Jos. Bazalgette recommended parishes to combine for drainage purposes instead of going to work single-handed. They had a successful example that day of the result of combination.

The Metropolitan Main Sewage cost 4 millions, and was incapable of performing more work. It therefore became necessary to have a supplemental system. The West Kent scheme presented several novelties, such as aqueducts and a syphon. At the reservoir at Long Reach, the sewage would be filtered.

The health of Colonel Lennard was then proposed, after which the visitors proceeded to inspect the works. Amongst the geological curiosities there had been found 17 ft. strata of decomposed sea shells. and several members of the Board carried away some perfect specimens of oyster and other shells. The boring showed the strata to be what is known as the Woolwich and Reading beds. In one portion of the work, several of the visitors donned some rough clothing, and descended in a truck down a cutting 38 feet deep, where they walked along the sewer right and left. At the open cuttings they descended by a ladder, and walked about half a mile through the sewer, which was lighted up with candles. The visitors also inspected the manufacture of the concrete blocks, the washing of the ballast in the river Bourne, and other interesting points in connection with the works. In the evening some 50 or 60 of the workmen were regaled with a substantial supper.

Source: Bexley Heath and Bexley Observer – Saturday 23 June 1877 from the British Newspaper Archive (subscription required)

1877 : Proposed 100 acres of Mitcham Common for sewage

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PROPOSED DRAINAGE OF MITCHAM, WALLINGTON, ETC.

Mr. Edridge said he wished make a remark respecting the Rural Sanitary Authority, although he did not wish to raise discussion. He was aware, that the members of the Authority bad recently experienced a great deal of trouble, still the subject involved in the question he was about to put was of such great importance to Croydon that he did not hesitate to put it. If the reply were in the affirmative he thought the fact was one which ought to come under the knowledge of the Board of Health, and they should take measures to further the interests of the district over which they had jurisdiction. He asked whether it was true that the Authority were in correspondence with the proper parties to whom it was necessary to apply in order to obtain a hundred acres of land at Mitcham Common for the purposes of sewage irrigation.

The Chairman said such thing had transpired, but there were 108 persons whose consent had to be asked before the Authority could obtain the land.

Mr. Randolph said it was true a resolution had been passed for the Authority to see on what terms they could purchase a hundred acres of Mitcham Common, but there were some difficulties in the way.

Mr. Edridge presumed that the Authority would not have taken such step except after a proper amount of consideration, and with the expectation that their action would lead to some result. He was therefore sure they would forgive him for having asked the question he had; and he thanked them for having given him the information he required.

Mr. Lindsey said the Authority had not given to the subject so much consideration it required ; but the thing had arisen because the Rural Board were driven up into a corner to find some mode of draining their district. It was therefore suggested at the last meeting that they might apply for a hundred acres of Mitcham Common. There had previously been some idea of making use of thirty acres of land, to carry out the intermittent filtration process; but it was thought it would not answer their purpose and expectations ; consequently they wanted to carry put the sewage irrigation system, and thought facilities for doing so would be gained if they could obtain a piece of land on Mitcham Common. It was true that they had applied, but they hardly expected to obtain the quantity of land they required, as it was necessary that the commoners must satisfied and agree before there could be any hope of obtaining the land.

Mr. Allen said the subject was one to be discussed by the Rural Sanitary Board, and not by the Board Guardians. Mr. Edridge, if he wished to speak upon the matter, ought to have come fully charged at the last meeting of the Authority; but, as the subject had been broached, he might well mention that Croydon applied for some land on the same common a few years ago, but the application was rejected. This was the only reason that could see for opposing the present application of the Rural Authority. But what could it matter to the people of Croydon, who had their parks and open spaces. The nuisance of 60,000 inhabitants was sent to Beddington, but instead being injurious to the health of the population, it was actually beneficial. He could not, therefore, understand why Mr. Edridge should come there to oppose the Authority. No doubt he came with the best intentions, but he had come at the wrong time. If he could wait till next week that would the proper time to bring the subject forward. Although there were 108 land owners to consult as to Mitcham Common, yet at present no benefit was derived from that land, but rather the reverse, as Gipsies caused a great nuisance there, and brought all sorts of diseases into the neighbourhood, at well a lot of donkeys and horses that ran all over the place. People like the Gipsies made extra work for the magistrates; yet when the Authority applied for a hundred acres of land for the drainage of the rural district they met with all sorts of obstacles from persons who ought to help instead of hindering them. There were 500 or 600 acres there suitable for irrigation, and of no use to the Inhabitants their present state. He therefore thought that Croydon ought not to offer opposition, although it might very well connect itself with Mr. Bazalgette’s scheme for taking sewage to the sea. Under all circumstances he thought it was most untimely to bring forward the subject, the Board of Guardians had nothing to do with it.

Mr, Edridge said his object was to ask question which interested Croydon generally, and to which he knew they would give him answer: but he should not have ventured to ask that question except a meeting of the Guardians, because, although had the honour of being an ex-officio member of the Board, was not member of the Rural Sanitary Authority, and was much obliged for the information that had been afforded. Mr. Allen said the Rural Sanitary Authority would glad to see Mr. Edridge at the right time if he had anything to say upon the matter referred to. This terminated the public business of the meeting.

Source: Croydon Advertiser and East Surrey Reporter – Saturday 17 February 1877 from the British Newspaper Archive (subscription required)