View report page

38
SEWERS.
With reference to the drainage of Lambeth, at the appointment
of the Vestry, the system of Sewerage in existence did not extend
beyond Kennington Church; all the Parish beyond that point
was dependent upon two lines of open watercourses, the Effra
and the Heathwall; the Effra brought the drainage from the
upper part of Norwood and discharged at VauxhaU, the Heathwall
ran along the low ground at the back of Wandsworth Road,
and brought the drainage from Acre Lane and Stockwell and
Wandsworth Road, discharging at Nine Elms. Upon appointment,
the Vestry lost no time in carrying out such works as the
existing outlet sewers permitted. A sewer was made along the
Clapham Road to the Parish boundary, which provided for the
drainage of streets right and left from Brixton Road to South
Lambeth Road. In anticipation of the New Main Drainage
system to be made by the Metropolitan Board of Works, and
while waiting for improved outlets for some parts, the Vestry at
once set about constructing Sewers in all the places where then
existing works afforded an opportunity, and as soon as the new
Main Drainage provided the means for constructing Sewers,
where no outlets previously existed, the Vestry made the necessary
preparations, so that no delay occurred in affording the full
benefit to the various parts of the Parish so soon as the new
Main Drainage became available. These works were pursued
for several years, and the money required was provided by loans
spread over a period of years, so that while the benefit was
secured at the earliest practicable time, those who now enjoy
the benefit have to bear a share of the cost by which it was
obtained. After the main lines of Sewers had been constructed
the subsidiary lines were considered and dealt with, and land
which had not been eligible for building came rapidly into