Place   

River Effra

Categories: Gardens / Agriculture

At the Brockwell Lido plaque there is an information board which begins by explaining the function of stink pipes:
"What is a stink pipe?
The lofty green pipe behind you is a Victorian stink pipe, a hollow pillar built to allow noxious (and smelly) gases to escape from underground sewers into the air, high above our heads. Often unnoticed by passers-by, stink pipes ensured that gases didn’t build up to dangerous pressures in the sewage pipes below.

The ‘lost’ River Effra
Stink pipes such as this one can be found along the course of the ‘lost‘ River Effra, which flowed from springs in West Norwood and Dulwich, passing Herne Hill and meandering through Brixton and Kennington before emptying into the Thames at Vauxhall. The once sparkling Effra was heavily polluted by people and factories until it eventually became an open sewer. The contaminated river was incorporated into the Victorian sewer system in the 1860s. Now the stink pipes are the only remaining signposts to mark where the river flows beneath the streets of Lambeth and Southwark."

The board goes on to explain that while the river has gone, its valley remains and exacerbates flooding in the area. People are encouraged not to pave their gardens. We applaud the message and all the work that is being done on this problem.

For the route of the Effra see Turney and Burbage.

Diamond Geezer has a very informative post about the plaques that mark the route. We haven't found them all. Do let us and DG know if you find any more.

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
River Effra

Commemorated ati

River Effra - Barnwell Road

The hidden River Effra is beneath your feet.

Read More

River Effra - Brockwell Lido

The hidden River Effra is beneath your feet.

Read More

River Effra - Canterbury Square 1

The hidden River Effra is beneath your feet.

Read More

River Effra - Canterbury Square 2

The hidden River Effra is beneath your feet.

Read More

River Effra - Canterbury Square 3

The hidden River Effra is beneath your feet.

Read More

Show all 17

Other Subjects

Battersea Park re-opened, 2004

Battersea Park re-opened, 2004

Battersea Park was re-opened to the public after extensive restoration.

Event, Gardens / Agriculture

1 memorial
Lawrence Chubb

Lawrence Chubb

Sir Lawrence Wensley Chubb was an Anglo-Australian professional Secretary whose work was on environmentalist causes. Born in Australia, he migrated to England and in 1891 was working as an auction...

Person, Gardens / Agriculture, Sport / Games, Australia

1 memorial
Wimbledon Common windmill

Wimbledon Common windmill

A Grade II* listed building. It was built by a carpenter, Charles March, and is a rare example of a 'hollow-post' mill. It continued in use until 1864, when the miller was evicted by the Lord of th...

Building, Gardens / Agriculture

1 memorial
St Mary Magdalen, Bermondsey, churchyard garden

St Mary Magdalen, Bermondsey, churchyard garden

Churchyard closed for burials and given to the Vestry of Bermondsey on 17 May 1882, it was opened to the public on 28 February 1883.

Place, Gardens / Agriculture, Religion

1 memorial
Gardening colleagues of Kevin Davis

Gardening colleagues of Kevin Davis

Gardening colleagues of Kevin Davis.

Group, Gardens / Agriculture

1 memorial