1. The Great Stink led to long-lasting improvements to London life – thanks to the foresight of Bazalgette
According to some estimates, Bazalgette’s sewerage system extended the lifespan of the average Londoner by as much as 20 years. And it wasn’t just his contemporaries who benefited. One of the most notable things about the system built as a result of the Great Stink was that it was built to last. Indeed, while London had a population of around 2 million in the 1860s, Bazalgette had the foresight to build his sewer system for a population twice that number.
Today, with London’s population close to 9 million, much of Bazalgette’s system is being upgraded or simply replaced. Several of the main tunnels, as well as the main pumping stations, have become tourist attractions. And, while Bazalgette may not be the most famous of Victorian-era Britons, he continues to be credited with not only making London a cleaner, better-smelling city, but of saving countless numbers of lives.
Where did we find this stuff? Here are our sources:
“London’s ‘Great Stink’ and Victorian Urban Planning.” BBC History.
“Too hot? In 1858 a heatwave turned London into a stinking sewer.” BBC News.
“Breathing in London’s history: from the Great Stink to the Great Smog.” The Museum of London.
“Story of cities #14: London’s Great Stink heralds a wonder of the industrial world.” The Guardian.
“The Great Stink of London.” The History Press.
“A fresh perspective on the Great Stink?” Wellcome Collection.