London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Deptford 1911
Annual report on the health of the Metropolitan Borough of Deptford
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15
In the Southern district the soil is practically all clay, but
the gradual slope forms an ideal drainage area.
In the South-West we find gravel to the north of New
Cross, and clay to the south of it. In the South and South-East
we have all clay. So much clay has a serious effect on the
houses and drains after a very dry or very wet season, in which
the clay shrinks or expands, the foundations being seriously interfered
with. There is also an interference with the foundations
owing to the sliding movement which takes place on a big slope.
Deptford is exceedingly fortunate in being connected with
the finest sewage system in the world.
The sewers passing through Deptford are:—
| Branch. | Size of Barrel. | Coming from. | Length. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bermondsey Branch | 5-ft. 6-in. | Rotherhithe | 7290-ft. |
| Southern High Level Sewer | 10-ft. 6-in. | Wandsworth | 6480-ft. |
| Southern Low Level Sewer | 7-ft. 3-in. | Putney | 7260-ft. |
| Effra Branch | 8-ft. 3-in. | Norwood | 6270-ft. |
| Storm Relief (in Church Street) | 13-ft. 6-in. by 11-ft. | — | 2970-ft. |
| Storm Relief (St. George's Stairs) | 13-ft. 6-in. by 11 -ft. | — | 1980-ft. |
| Relief Sewer at Broadway | 10-ft. | Greenwich | 3080-ft. |
| Deptford to Lee Green Sewer | 6-ft. | Lee | 1320-ft. |
| Ravensbourne and Sydenham Sewer | 6-ft. by 4-ft. | Bell Green | 1330-ft. |
| New Southern High Level Sewer | 8-ft. 3-in. | Brockley | 7920-ft. |