London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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St Giles (Camberwell) 1890

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Camberwell]

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96
FLOODS.
The following Report was received by your Surveyor
upon the occasion of a severe storm which took place on
the 17th July last, which caused considerable damage in
portions of this Parish, subject to flooding, consequent on
excessive rainfalls:—
Vestry of Camberwell.
Report on floods in this parish, occasioned by the heavy
rainfall which occurred on Thursday, the 17th of
July last.
The above rainfall which was of a severe character,
amounting I believe to something approaching about 1½ in.
in 40 minutes, descended with such rapidity that it caused
the outlet sewers, upon which this locality is dependent, to
become quickly overcharged, especially as it occurred at a
time when relief from the outlets of an ebbing tide was
most needed but not available; therefore, until such relief
was afforded, supplementing the pumping power (which no
doubt was in full action), the accumulated pent-up Sewage
naturally spread itself throughout the lower districts particularly,
and, as usual at such times and occasions, invaded
the basements and cellars lying under flood level.
This was the result, all round the vicinity of the
Thames Basin, which is dependent for its outlet on the
river Thames, under the varying conditions of the tide,
and also on the pumping auxilaries of the lower system of
Metropolitan Sewage. Unfortunately this parish, as usual,

The following Pipe Sewers have been executed by the Vestry as public works:—

Pipe Sewers.
12-in.15-in.18-in.
Feet.Feet.Feet.
Arnold Road...400...
Canning Passage80......
College Road......800
Darrell Road150......
Gordon Road94......
Landells Road80......
Chiswell Street34......
Peckham Park Road190......
Peckham Park60......
688400800