Metropolitan Commission of Sewers

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Coordinates: 51°30′54″N 0°07′53″W / 51.5149°N 0.1313°W / 51.5149; -0.1313
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Metropolitan Commission of Sewers
AbbreviationMCS
PredecessorSewer commissions of:
  • 1 Greek Street
Location
  • London, United Kingdom
Coordinates51°30′54″N 0°07′53″W / 51.5149°N 0.1313°W / 51.5149; -0.1313
OriginsMetropolitan Commission of Sewers Act 1848
Region served
Inner London
Membership (1854–1856)
21
Chairman
Richard Jebb
Engineer
Joseph Bazalgette
Commissioners
Parent organization
Government of the United Kingdom

The Metropolitan Commission of Sewers was one of London's first steps towards bringing its sewer and drainage infrastructure under the control of a single public body. It was absorbed by the Metropolitan Board of Works on 1 January 1856.

Formation

Metropolitan Commission of Sewers Act 1848
Act of Parliament
10 & 11 Vict. c. 217
Text of statute as originally enacted

The commission was formed by the

11 & 12 Vict. c. 112), partly in response to public health concerns following serious outbreaks of cholera. The commission's mandate was renewed and amended with supplementary Acts in 1851, 1852, 1853, 1854 and 1855. Commissioners included Sir Edwin Chadwick, Robert Stephenson and Thomas Field Gibson
.

The new body combined eight local boards of commissioners that had been established by earlier

acts of parliament
:

The area covered by the Metropolitan Commission was defined as the

St. Paul's Cathedral, but not being in the City of London or the liberties thereof". No area was to be exempt from the commission's jurisdiction by virtue of being extra-parochial or beyond the ebb or flow of the tide. The headquarters of the commission were at 1, Greek Street, Soho
.

The City of London was excluded as it had its own Commission of Sewers dating back to 1669.

Activities

The commission surveyed London's antiquated sewerage system and set about ridding the capital of an estimated 200,000

The Great Stink
" of 1858).

The commission was notable in that it employed

London sewerage system
were being implemented.

Chairmen

  • Viscount Ebrington (1 January 1849 – 6 October 1851)
  • Edward Lawes (6 October 1851 – 24 July 1852)
  • Richard Jebb (24 July 1852 – 1 January 1856)

See also

References

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