Report - Clapham Storm Relief (Lucky Charms), London - July 2014.

[Ojay]

LUCKY CHARMS

Essentially the Clapham Storm Relief and a CSO which serves the Southern High Level No.1/Putney & Clapham extension & Balham Sewers

Originally I had set out with Adders to look at something else, but we weren't suitably equipped and the next lid was a fair walk and time was against us

We opted for a quick look in here instead as we were nearby

One thing I've noticed, as soon as you mention drains to anyone, even fellow explorers it's an instant gurn

Once facial features usually return to normal most people just walk away leaving one muttering to ones self

Whatever opinion you have about them, you can't deny the epic over-engineering by the Board of Works that exists in London

There is something about Victorian brickwork that is hard to ignore, this place is no exception and simply stunning!


You would be forgiven that dropping into this rather small (8ft x 4ft) egg overflow and traipsing about would reveal anything decent..

WRONG... slip & slide upstream and throw down some lumens and you might have a different opinion of sewers :

Of course my pics don't really do the place justice and there are much better examples kicking around, none-the-less it was good to finally drop into this one


Split

Here the 8ft egg quickly turns to around 13ft ahead of the overflow

Junction

Here the Southern High Level No.1 enters on the far left, Putney & Clapham extension on the right, with the Balham sewer in the foreground

Here the Southern High Level exits via a smaller diameter arch as it eventually heads on down to the Southern Outfall Works, Crossness

Looking a bit closer upstream you can see one of the original carts/bogey's used during the original construction, since discarded between the converging sewers

Overflow - Southern High Level

Putney & Clapham extension

A single sided weir/oak dam boards serve as an overflow, passing underneath a now defunct penstock before droppping into a pit of soup beyond which is the Clapham Relief

Adders mentioned something about a beer garden..

This wasn't it, but a couple of cold ones and a spot of World Cup at the nearby boozer shortly afterwards was a welcome sight

Mind the Fresh

Thanks for looking
​

 

[Adders]

Some cracking photos there mate! Was a good night for sure.

 

[TheVicar]

Great pics Ojay!
Lucky Charms has to be one of London's finest pieces of drain brickwork, it is simply superb in every aspect!
I know what you mean about the overflow tunnel, you wouldn't expect it to lead to something as good as this.

 

[Lenston]

Some great shots there mate, epic report

 

[paulpowers]

Lovely stuff

That brickwork is sexy as

 

[Ojay]

I know what you mean about the overflow tunnel, you wouldn't expect it to lead to something as good as this.

I think we have all been spoilt

I really ought to give a shout to Otter/JD/Siologen/Loops & other drain hard hitters over the years for putting the work into such awesome stuff

props.

 

[Nickindroy]

Bastarding brickwork there! Ace all over.

 

[The Wombat]

Epic stuff, and cracking photos

 

[wellingtonian]

Proper good report mate. Them Victorians could lay a fair brick.

 

[Bunk3r]

There's no denying that's some seriously lovely brickwork, nicely captured.

 

[Wevsky]

It is from the pictures ive seen very impressive indeed mate

good set of flicks ta boot!