Explored on Boxing Day with Tallginge.
The Brixton Storm Relief Sewer follows the original path of the River Effra. It begins below the Brixton Road close to the Angell Town Housing Estate. From here it runs north towards The Oval cricket ground and then west to Vauxhall where it terminates at the Thames just north of Vauxhall Bridge.
This first photo is of the Effra Sewer taken looking south in the direction of Brixton tube station.
Turning around 180 degrees and this is the view: the two arches straight ahead are the beginning of the SR, during storm conditions the flow overtops the wooden boards and relieves the sewer which continues down the tunnel to the right. Just around the corner and out of sight it meets and becomes the Southern High Level Sewer #1 which joins from the left.
This shot below is taken looking back from the sewer beyond the overflow junction:
Here you can see the view down the right hand side arch at the beginning of the relief sewer. Cutting across the two arches from the west is the aforementioned Southern High Level Sewer #1 which is contained in an open top cast iron carrier with a gantry alongside it:
The water in this initial chamber of the storm relief is quite deep and chest waders are necessary. Care has to be taken not to breach one’s waders while negotiating the narrow gap between the water and the base of the cast iron carrier above.
The problem I had at this point is that a little earlier on in the day, I had ruined my chesties on a vicious ladder which tore a nasty hole in them rendering them no more useful than a pair of wellies.
Tallginge passed the carrier on the left hand side, while I popped back up topside then and re-joined the tunnel shortly beyond the deep water.
These pics show the chamber from the other side with Tallginge illustrating the scale of the chamber and water depth.
From here we say goodbye to the beautiful brickwork as the tunnel takes the form of an 8.5ft diameter sectional concrete pipe that was constructed between 1973 and 1975.
Only a hundred metres along the tunnel the ceiling drops a bit to accommodate the Southern High Level Sewer #2 which passes above here.
Shortly we walk past this dodgy bit of construction where the concrete has started to spall.
A bizarre attempt at a repair sees the use of a piece of halved waste pipe attached to the protruding rebar with nylon rope!
A bit further downstream and the tunnel briefly changes shape to accommodate something above. Here a worker has taken it upon himself to write a rude word on the wall.
Close to St. Mark’s Church in Kennington, the tunnel takes a left turn and appears to be showing a little bit of subsidence. After a bit of snaking from left to right, we reach an interesting section where the concrete tunnel ends. Here, two heavily laden catch chains sport an impressive array of wet wipes, jam rags and other nasties.
After climbing over the chains, there is an interesting ovoid brick and concrete chamber where the level of the drain drops away and a lovely 9ft red brick tunnel begins.
Above ground here is a stone’s throw from the Oval cricket ground.
Tallginge paused here for a little rest before performing a quick bit of ladder acrobatics!
Here’s a couple of photos taken looking back up the tunnel from the start of the red brick section.
This brick section built in 1880, features a couple of rather nice curves before straightening out and subtly changing into a most appropriate oval shaped tunnel.
This shot looking back upstream towards Tallginge’s torch beam does a better job of showing the change from round to oval.
We pass by Vauxhall underground and bus station and head towards the end of the tunnel which is just to the north side of Vauxhall bridge. The oval tunnel curves tightly to the right by 90 degrees and it is here where any our journey ends as a large heavy iron flap prevents any further travel.
According to the map, the tunnel continues 10 metres or so beyond this flap before taking another 90 degree turn to the left. Shortly after this is the outfall to the Thames which is currently undergoing change as part of the Tideway scheme.
The final two pics of the Effra SR outfall structure are ones I pinched from the internet.
As of last year, this structure was demolished in preparation for the construction of the Tideway interception chamber.
Thanks again Tallginge for another enjoyable evening of draining company.
The Brixton Storm Relief Sewer follows the original path of the River Effra. It begins below the Brixton Road close to the Angell Town Housing Estate. From here it runs north towards The Oval cricket ground and then west to Vauxhall where it terminates at the Thames just north of Vauxhall Bridge.
This first photo is of the Effra Sewer taken looking south in the direction of Brixton tube station.
Turning around 180 degrees and this is the view: the two arches straight ahead are the beginning of the SR, during storm conditions the flow overtops the wooden boards and relieves the sewer which continues down the tunnel to the right. Just around the corner and out of sight it meets and becomes the Southern High Level Sewer #1 which joins from the left.
This shot below is taken looking back from the sewer beyond the overflow junction:
Here you can see the view down the right hand side arch at the beginning of the relief sewer. Cutting across the two arches from the west is the aforementioned Southern High Level Sewer #1 which is contained in an open top cast iron carrier with a gantry alongside it:
The water in this initial chamber of the storm relief is quite deep and chest waders are necessary. Care has to be taken not to breach one’s waders while negotiating the narrow gap between the water and the base of the cast iron carrier above.
The problem I had at this point is that a little earlier on in the day, I had ruined my chesties on a vicious ladder which tore a nasty hole in them rendering them no more useful than a pair of wellies.
Tallginge passed the carrier on the left hand side, while I popped back up topside then and re-joined the tunnel shortly beyond the deep water.
These pics show the chamber from the other side with Tallginge illustrating the scale of the chamber and water depth.
From here we say goodbye to the beautiful brickwork as the tunnel takes the form of an 8.5ft diameter sectional concrete pipe that was constructed between 1973 and 1975.
Only a hundred metres along the tunnel the ceiling drops a bit to accommodate the Southern High Level Sewer #2 which passes above here.
Shortly we walk past this dodgy bit of construction where the concrete has started to spall.
A bizarre attempt at a repair sees the use of a piece of halved waste pipe attached to the protruding rebar with nylon rope!
A bit further downstream and the tunnel briefly changes shape to accommodate something above. Here a worker has taken it upon himself to write a rude word on the wall.
Close to St. Mark’s Church in Kennington, the tunnel takes a left turn and appears to be showing a little bit of subsidence. After a bit of snaking from left to right, we reach an interesting section where the concrete tunnel ends. Here, two heavily laden catch chains sport an impressive array of wet wipes, jam rags and other nasties.
After climbing over the chains, there is an interesting ovoid brick and concrete chamber where the level of the drain drops away and a lovely 9ft red brick tunnel begins.
Above ground here is a stone’s throw from the Oval cricket ground.
Tallginge paused here for a little rest before performing a quick bit of ladder acrobatics!
Here’s a couple of photos taken looking back up the tunnel from the start of the red brick section.
This brick section built in 1880, features a couple of rather nice curves before straightening out and subtly changing into a most appropriate oval shaped tunnel.
This shot looking back upstream towards Tallginge’s torch beam does a better job of showing the change from round to oval.
We pass by Vauxhall underground and bus station and head towards the end of the tunnel which is just to the north side of Vauxhall bridge. The oval tunnel curves tightly to the right by 90 degrees and it is here where any our journey ends as a large heavy iron flap prevents any further travel.
According to the map, the tunnel continues 10 metres or so beyond this flap before taking another 90 degree turn to the left. Shortly after this is the outfall to the Thames which is currently undergoing change as part of the Tideway scheme.
The final two pics of the Effra SR outfall structure are ones I pinched from the internet.
As of last year, this structure was demolished in preparation for the construction of the Tideway interception chamber.
Thanks again Tallginge for another enjoyable evening of draining company.
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