Metropolitan Board of Works

The Metropolitan Board of Works (MBW) was the principal instrument of London-wide government from 1855 until the establishment of the London County Council in 1889. Its principal responsibility was to provide infrastructure to cope with London's rapid growth, which it successfully accomplished. The MBW was an appointed rather than elected body. This lack of accountabillity made it unpopular with Londoners, especially in its latter years when it fell prey to corruption.

Activities

A major problem was sewage: most of London's waste was allowed to flow into the Thames resulting in a horrendous smell in the summer months. In 1855 and 1858 there were especially bad summers with the latter being known as "The Great Stink". A notable achievement of the Board was the creation of the core London sewerage system, including 75 miles (120 km) of main and 1000 miles (1650 km) of street sewers, which solved the problem. A large part of the work of the MBW was under the charge of the Chief Engineer, Joseph Bazalgette, previously engineer with the Metropolitan Commission of Sewers.

Related Topics:
Thames - 1855 - 1858 - The Great Stink - London sewerage system - Joseph Bazalgette

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From 1869 the MBW acquired all the private bridges crossing the River Thames and built new crossings including Tower Bridge, Grosvenor Bridge, rebuilding Battersea Bridge, Waterloo Bridge;

Related Topics:
River Thames - Tower Bridge - Grosvenor Bridge - Battersea Bridge - Waterloo Bridge

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Its other activities included slum clearance, creating Charing Cross Road, Garrick Street, Northumberland Avenue, Shaftesbury Avenue, and Southwark Street. It also created the three section Thames Embankment from 1864.

Related Topics:
Slum - Thames Embankment

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