Andrew I have walked past this just after a storm. The smell is truly disgusting. Men who work down the sewers are very brave.
Andrew G
28-Oct-2014 22:47
Oh, and I believed it too as a child. We lived in Earldom Road, Putney, just a 5 minute walk from the Thames, and the foreshore and towpath were my playground in the early 60s.
Andrew G
28-Oct-2014 22:44
Yes, it's a Putney myth! These cages are to prevent access to a large stormwater drain which discharges into the river in conditions of very heavy rain. They were built into the bridge by the designer, Joseph Bazalgette (the same Bazalgette who built London's Victorian sewage system), who also incorporated an air vent into one of the arches of the bridge to ensure constant water pressure in the drain. Apparently the collected detritus, when occasionally discharged, is exceptionally aromatic and best avoided...! Not very exciting, I'm afraid, but interesting nonetheless.