Sewers Collection

London / Embankment / 1867
A section of the Thames Embankment, showing the Subway, the Pneumatic Railway, the Metropolitan and District Railway and the Low-Level Sewer

Drainage Grid
A Needham Stockport drainage grid. 19th century

London Rat Catcher
A rat-catcher at work in the London sewers

An emery-bag, 1890
3479060 An emery-bag, 1890; (add.info.: An Emery-bag. Sewers would push their needles into the bag to remove rust. Circa 1890.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

A Snake in the Sewers, 1850
3359124 A Snake in the Sewers, 1850; (add.info.: Cartoon titled 'A Snake in the Sewers'. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Subways for carrying sewers, gas and water supply through Westminster, London, 1850
3359136 Subways for carrying sewers, gas and water supply through Westminster, London, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving of subways for carrying sewers, gas and water supply through Westminster, London)

Bursting of the Fleet Ditch and destruction of part of the Metropolitan Railway... 1862. Creator: Unknown
Bursting of the Fleet Ditch and destruction of part of the Metropolitan Railway: scene of the accident, [London], 1862. Owing to falls in the Fleet sewer the waters had accumulated to a great extent

Underground Paris - the sewers
3784840 Underground Paris - the sewers; (add.info.: Underground Paris - the sewers. With a cleaning team ('service d'assainissement') beneath a drain on Boulevard Sebastapol

Daily Mirror photographer Bela Zola pictured in the centre, with London sewer men who he spent the day photographing. 1st April 1947

A Mini is lowered into Coventry sewers during the filming of "The Italian Job"
A Mini is lowered into Coventry sewers during the filming of " The Italian Job" film. 26th September 1968

Minis in Coventry sewers during the filming of "The Italian Job"film
Minis in Coventry sewers during the filming of " The Italian Job" film. 26th September 1968

Spanish Catch Sewers Events Spain Civil War December
spanish, catch, sewers, events, spain, civil, war, december, 1936, nationalists, madrid, capture, republicans, who, trying, penetrate, 10022228

Sir Joseph William Bazalgette, 1819 - 1891. 19th-century English civil engineer
2603470 Sir Joseph William Bazalgette, 1819 - 1891. 19th-century English civil engineer, responsible for the sewer network for central London From The Review of Reviews

Untitled, 1893 (w / c on paper)
OVR368845 Untitled, 1893 (w/c on paper) by Kittelsen, Theodor Severin (1857-1914); 27x22 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: from the series Do the Animals have a Soul.); Photo © O. Vaering

View of the Cloaca Maxima, 1833 (etching with brown wash)
STC384952 View of the Cloaca Maxima, 1833 (etching with brown wash) by Tofanelli, Agostino (1770-1834); Private Collection; (add.info)

Unidentified sewer workers pose above ground, New York, c. 1911 (b / w photo)
1078798 Unidentified sewer workers pose above ground, New York, c.1911 (b/w photo) by Hassler, William Davis (1877-1921); Collection of the New-York Historical Society

Worker inside the W. 129th Street sewer, New York, c. 1911 (b / w photo)
1078797 Worker inside the W. 129th Street sewer, New York, c.1911 (b/w photo) by Hassler, William Davis (1877-1921); Collection of the New-York Historical Society

Subway Sections (engraving)
587127 Subway Sections (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Illustration depicting a cross section)

Barrow-hoist on the southern high-level sewer at Peckham (engraving)
587119 Barrow-hoist on the southern high-level sewer at Peckham (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Penstock Chamber (engraving)
587113 Penstock Chamber (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Underground London: A Penstock Chamber)

Comic postcard, Sewage worker and boss in the street Date: 20th century

Architecture (colour litho)
2795449 Architecture (colour litho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Architecture. Double page illustration contained in one of the series of Les Recreations)

Yere Batan Serai (The Cisterns) Istanbul, engraved by J. T. Willmore, c. 1850 (aquatint)
STC83275 Yere Batan Serai (The Cisterns) Istanbul, engraved by J.T. Willmore, c.1850 (aquatint) by Bartlett, William Henry (1809-54) (after); Private Collection; (add.info)

Punch cartoon: Sanitary and Insanitary Matters (engraving)
6034652 Punch cartoon: Sanitary and Insanitary Matters (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Illustration for Punch, Volume 18)

Punch cartoon: The Wonders of a London Water Drop (engraving)
6034641 Punch cartoon: The Wonders of a London Water Drop (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Punch cartoon: The Wonders of a London Water Drop)

London Main Drainage (engraving)
587117 London Main Drainage (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Penstock Chamber at Old Ford)

Repair of the Fleet Sewer (engraving)
587123 Repair of the Fleet Sewer (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Repair of the Fleet Sewer, London)

The Cistern of Bin-Veber-Direg, or The Thousand and One, Istanbul, engraved by J
STC83276 The Cistern of Bin-Veber-Direg, or The Thousand and One, Istanbul, engraved by J. Carter, c.1850 (aquatint) by Bartlett

Section of the soil under a street in Paris (engraving)
2793302 Section of the soil under a street in Paris (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Section of the soil under a street in Paris)

Underground London. At the busiest crossing in the world (litho)
3627056 Underground London. At the busiest crossing in the world (litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Underground London. At the busiest crossing in the world)

Four adventurous Milanese boys, armed with lines and a candle, descended from a... (colour litho)
2783632 Four adventurous Milanese boys, armed with lines and a candle, descended from a... (colour litho) by Beltrame, Achille (1871-1945); Private Collection; (add.info)

Section of the Holborn Viaduct, showing the subways, taken by permission from Mr. Haywoods report. Date: 19th Century

Flushing the sewers 1860s
With the population expanding and dumping coursing blockages below the depths of London, men wearing heavy oilskin protective clothing would go into the tunnels to unblock the sewers with a combing

Sewer hunter 1860s
Sewer hunters who made their money by combing through the sewers beneath London streets, sieving through the raw water for a small opportunity of finding something valuable like a ring that somebody

Stench of people been flushed away. Date: 1853

For the sudden collapse of the floor in the crowded room of a trattoria in Guardia Vomano... (colour litho)
2778245 For the sudden collapse of the floor in the crowded room of a trattoria in Guardia Vomano... (colour litho) by Beltrame

The Viennese police have managed to capture in a sewer a gang of thieves who for seven years... (colour litho)
2777937 The Viennese police have managed to capture in a sewer a gang of thieves who for seven years... (colour litho) by Beltrame

Reading of a notice from the mayor relating to the cleaning of the municipal sewers (colour litho)
3656808 Reading of a notice from the mayor relating to the cleaning of the municipal sewers (colour litho) by Lavrate, Edmond (1829-1888); Private Collection; (add.info)

The concrete mills at Plaistow (engraving)
587132 The concrete mills at Plaistow (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The concrete mills at Plaistow, London)

Boring Operation (engraving)
587122 Boring Operation (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Boring operation, near Grays Inn Lane, in connection with the main drainage of the metropolis)

Flushing The Sewers (engraving)
587110 Flushing The Sewers (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: London Labour and the London Poor)

A grim discovery (colour litho)
2782414 A grim discovery (colour litho) by French School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: A grim discovery. A sewer worker discovering the body of a dead child. Lugubre Decouverte)

Une Visite aux egouts de Paris (engraving)
3645568 Une Visite aux egouts de Paris (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Une Visite aux egouts de Paris. Illustration for Le Magasin Pittoresque (1870)

Page from the Black and White Budget (engraving)
587135 Page from the Black and White Budget (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Page from the Black and White Budget (published on 26 January 1901)

Constructing the concrete embankment across the Plaistow marshes (engraving)
587134 Constructing the concrete embankment across the Plaistow marshes (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Proposed Metropolitan subway (engraving)
587128 Proposed Metropolitan subway (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Proposed Metropolitan subway for sewage, and gas and water supply)

Main drainage of the metropolis (engraving)
587124 Main drainage of the metropolis (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Main drainage of the metropolis - sectional view of the tunnels from Wick Lane)

Constructing the invert for the southern high-level sewer (engraving)
587118 Constructing the invert for the southern high-level sewer (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

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"Unveiling the Hidden World: Exploring the Intricate Sewers Beneath Our Feet" Delving into the depths of urban infrastructure, we uncover a labyrinthine network known as sewers. These drainage grids silently serve their purpose, ensuring our cities remain clean and functional. In 1867, London witnessed an extraordinary feat by its rat catchers who battled against these cunning creatures lurking within the city's sewers. Their relentless efforts on the embankment were crucial in maintaining public health and hygiene. One cannot discuss sewers without acknowledging Sir Joseph William Bazalgette, an eminent 19th-century English civil engineer whose visionary mind birthed central London's sewer system. His legacy lives on even today, as his work continues to protect millions from sanitation-related issues. Traveling across time and space, we find ourselves amidst Spain's civil war in December when Spanish catch sewers events unfolded. The significance of these events remains shrouded in mystery but serves as a testament to how vital functioning sewer systems are during times of conflict. Artistic interpretations have also captured the allure of these hidden passageways. In an untitled watercolor painting from 1893, one can almost hear echoes reverberating through ancient tunnels beneath bustling streets. Similarly, "View of the Cloaca Maxima, " created in 1833 using etching with brown wash technique, showcases Rome's monumental sewer system that has stood for centuries. Photographs transport us to different eras - New York City circa 1911 reveals unidentified sewer workers posing above ground while another brave soul ventures inside W. 129th Street sewer; both images capturing their dedication to keeping cities running smoothly underground. Engravings provide glimpses into engineering marvels like subway sections or barrow-hoists used on southern high-level sewers at Peckham. These illustrations highlight not only technical prowess but also human ingenuity required for constructing such intricate systems.