History
The history of the river Wandle culvert is very limited, as it's not seen as a structure of particular interest (to the general public that is 
) so there hasn't been any true documentation of it over the years. As a result, I've decided to focus the historical section of this report on the river Wandle in order to produce a report with a bit more substance. The Wandle's Early Days: From Royal Gardens to Public Pleasure
At the start of the 19th century, the River Wandle was a central part of Croydon. It flowed freely through the town, even winding through the gardens of the Archbishop of Canterbury's Palace. Here, the river's natural springs were shaped into pretty ponds, streams, and small canals, perfect for the famous trout that lived there. Even the great Admiral Nelson enjoyed fishing in the Wandle. After his victory at Trafalgar, Lady Hamilton, who loved him dearly, named the part of the river in her garden "The Nile" in his honor. The river wasn't just for the wealthy, however; ordinary people also used it extensively. They swam in its waters, and it was the venue for the Borough's Summer Show, featuring pony rides, roundabouts, and boat-swings. In the summer, children would often fish the waters for trout, and in a memorable incident, circus elephants even paid a visit to the Carshalton ponds.
The Working Wandle: Mills, Industry, and Power
As far back as the Domesday records, the River Wandle was a vital resource, its power initially harnessed by corn mills. These early mills, essential for grinding the grain that sustained local communities, represented the start of the Wandle's lengthy industrial use. Fulling mills, crucial for the burgeoning textile trade, soon followed, processing wool and marking a significant step in the river's diversification. The 17th century witnessed a dramatic surge, both in the number of mills and the range of goods they produced. Paper mills, gunpowder factories, ironworks, dye works, and copper mills sprang up along the riverbanks, vying for access to the Wandle's precious powerful flow. This industrial expansion continued unabated into the 18th century, with mills dedicated to the production of snuff, leather, herbal remedies (then referred to as "drugs"), peppermint and lavender oils, calico printing, and silk weaving joining the already crowded banks of the Wandle. By 1805, the Wandle, boasted 90 mills along its short course and was therefore aptly described as "the hardest worked river for its size in the world". This intense concentration of industry leading to fierce competition between factory owners for the Wandle's powerful flow breeding projects such as the Paper Mill Cut and the Pickle, deliberate diversions of the river designed to secure more of the Wandle's power to drive the water wheels. Today, the Wandle's banks and surrounding area remains industrial, although unfortunately the power of the river is no longer harnessed by the sector with the last water-wheel powered mill closing its doors in 1982.
Taming the Wandle: Culverts
Over its long life, the River Wandle has undergone two significant culverting projects.As Croydon’s population grew during the Industrial Revolution, the condition of the Wandle quickly deteriorated till it became little more than an open sewer. During a cholera and typhoid epidemic in 1840, local health officials decided the river had to be buried to curb the spread of the disease. The second culverting project occurred in 1967 in order to address the inconsistent water levels of the river in Wandle park, this culverting project redirected the river into the drainage system that I explored. Before the river was redirected, the drain lay dry for several months in which it was used by the local children as an unofficial playground to set off fireworks in.
The Wandle Today: Reconnecting with a Lost River
In recent years, the river has regained some of its former glory after a regeneration scheme started in 2012 by the council. Brown trouts have started to return to the area and water pollution levels are now beginning to recover. The river is now one of the cleanest in London and children have started swimming in sections again such as Morden hall park.
The explore
The Wandle's culvert had been a point of curiosity during my frequent walks along the Wandle trail, wondering what lay inside and where it led to. Finally, in the late summer of 2023, I managed to convince two of my mates to join me on an expedition down into the drain to satisfy my curiosity.
We followed a scenic path past Waddon Ponds to the drain's mouth. There, we traded shoes for wellies, stashing our footwear in a bush before taking the plunge. The water level was more than we had bargained for immediately overtopping our boots and forcing a hasty, sloshing emptying once in the tunnel. (At this point we were very thankful for the recent regeneration scheme)
Inside, the culvert's world enveloped us. Graffiti soon gave way to bare concrete as the sounds of traffic and nature receded. Only the echoes of our footfalls in the shallow stream and the unsettling rustle of rodents remained.
After navigating a few bends and ducking beneath a low-hanging pipe, we finally reached a metal grate, putting an end to the explore.
We turned back, retracing our path to the welcoming sunlight. Drying off, we felt a shared sense of accomplishment, and for me, the beginning of a fascination with the draining world.
Photos
As it was my first time in a drain I hadn’t quite anticipated just how hard it would be to take pictures inside, so I came out with less than I would like. Regardless, here are the shots I did manage to capture.
Looking down the drain into the darkness
Powerful flow from another source of current
Thankfully this is not what I originally thought it was, it is in fact large mineral deposits with iron staining.
A former now dried up pipe
Posing for the camera
Some company…
Thanks for reading
Thanks for reading
Last edited:
