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10
Ten old gulleys trapped, and eleven repaired.
Three flushing shafts have been fixed, and two urinals made.
The Vestry having again had under consideration several complaints from flooding,
in consequence of the water backing up the Earl Sewer, they caused the following
Letter to be sent to the Metropolitan Board of works.
To the Chairman and Members of the Metropolitan Board of Works.
10th July, 1858.
Gentlemen,—I am directed by the Vestry of Rotherhithe, to call your attention
to the injury sustained by the inhabitants in the neighbourhood of the Deptford
Lower-road, by the flooding of their premises, in consequence of the admission
of the tide much more frequently into the Earl Sewer, and to a higher level than it
ever previously used to be; which we arc informed is by direction of your Board.
The effect upon this Parish is most injurious, as it stops the flow of sewage into
the Earl Sewer entirely, and causes great injury to the neighbourhood.
In consequence of the complaints, the Vestry during the latter part of the last
month had the sewage guaged in the Deptford-road Sewer, and found that it stood
only three feet three inches and three feet nine inches beneath the level of the
road.
The Vestry desire me to refer you to their Memorial, asking for an improved
entrance to the river, and calling your attontion to the injury that would result to the
Parish of Rotherhithe by reason of the connection with the sewage westward, and the
works now in progress in Jamaica-row, Bermondsey.
This Vestry desire also to refer you to the plans submitted by them for the drainage
of Adam and Albion-streets, and other places adjoining, which they proposed should
drain as hitherto into the Lime Kiln Sewer, in Swan-lane, Rotherhithe, but that such
plans were reversed, and the sewage turned for nearly seven hundred houses westward
into the Deptford-road Sewer, which was protested against by their engineer in consequcnce
of the known bad outlet to the said Deptford-road Sewer.
The Vestry would further draw your attention to the fact that since 1854, the
Deptford-road Sewer has to receive the drainage of nearly twelve hundred houses, and
which they trust will prove to you the necessity of immediately proceeding with the
northern or Bermondsey intercepting sewer (part of the main drainage scheme of your
engineer) which they have previously urged so strongly on your Board, otherwise,
should the present outlet of the Earl not immediately be considerably enlarged, the
most disastrous results must accrue to Rotherhithe.
The Vestry have received with surprise the report of your engineer, of the first
instant, as Mr. Catchpoles complaint to the District Board, with others, attributes the
flooding to the tide let into the Earl Sewer, the real cause of the flood, and as respects the
tidal flap being examined and cleared once a week under the late Commissioners of