Episode 3: The Victorian Sewer That Built Modern London episode artwork

EPISODE · Aug 14, 2026 · 21 MIN

Episode 3: The Victorian Sewer That Built Modern London

from The Standard

We hope you enjoy this new series from The Standard. To listen to more episodes now, check out Thames Unfiltered. In the third episode of Thames Unfiltered, host Lucy Tobin explores the engineering marvel that is London’s sewer network.After the Great Stink of 1858 and cholera outbreaks that forced politicians to act, the Victorian system was designed by Sir Joseph Bazalgette in the mid-20th century.That same Victorian system still serves London today.Lucy pays a visit to Abbey Mills Pumping Station, or “Poo Palace”, to find out what happens when a 150-year-old system is pushed beyond the limits its creator could have imagined.This episode features interviews with the “Queen of London’s Poo”, Dina Gillespie, and Sir Peter Bazalgette, great-great-grandson of Joseph Bazalgette.Listen to Thames Unfiltered, brought to you by The Standard, in association with Thames Water. All content has been created under The Standard's editorial control.Next episode: We investigate whether the Tideway Tunnel — London's £5 billion "super sewer" — is delivering on its promise to reduce sewage pollution and relieve pressure on the Victorian network beneath the capital. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Aug 14, 2026

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Episode 3: The Victorian Sewer That Built Modern London

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