Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1936-1965 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
3.33 linear metres
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The phenomenal growth of population in Middlesex from early 1920s brought problems of peculiar difficulty in sewage disposal. These were partly offset by the district councils extending their local purification works but it was clear that the problem could best be met by co-ordination and centralisation of treatment.
After intensive investigation and report by its consulting engineers, under the guidance of John Duncan Watson, the County Council with difficulty secured one of the last Unemployment Grants and obtained powers to construct and operate a system of trunk sewers, with sewage purification and sludge disposal works, to serve Western Middlesex. The undertaking came into operation in 1935-36 and included the Mogden works, then the largest and most modern full-treatment plant in the world.
Further powers were obtained in 1938 for a similar undertaking to serve North and East Middlesex. Although the Second World War delayed the project, the new works were in operation by 1963. The East Middlesex works served 14 local authorities covering an area of 95 square miles and a population of 710,000. The system included 24 miles of trunk sewers, with a flow of 32,000,000 gallons a day.
Repository
Archival history
MCC/CL/EMD 1936-1965 Collection 3.33 linear metres MCC , Middlesex County Council x Middlesex County Council
The phenomenal growth of population in Middlesex from early 1920s brought problems of peculiar difficulty in sewage disposal. These were partly offset by the district councils extending their local purification works but it was clear that the problem could best be met by co-ordination and centralisation of treatment.
After intensive investigation and report by its consulting engineers, under the guidance of John Duncan Watson, the County Council with difficulty secured one of the last Unemployment Grants and obtained powers to construct and operate a system of trunk sewers, with sewage purification and sludge disposal works, to serve Western Middlesex. The undertaking came into operation in 1935-36 and included the Mogden works, then the largest and most modern full-treatment plant in the world.
Further powers were obtained in 1938 for a similar undertaking to serve North and East Middlesex. Although the Second World War delayed the project, the new works were in operation by 1963. The East Middlesex works served 14 local authorities covering an area of 95 square miles and a population of 710,000. The system included 24 miles of trunk sewers, with a flow of 32,000,000 gallons a day.
Acquired with the records of its parent authority, the Middlesex County Council, and with successor authorities.
Records of the Middlesex County Council Clerk's Department relating to East Middlesex drainage, 1939-1965, including papers of the East Middlesex Drainage Committee; correspondence with consulting engineers; reports by the County Drainage Engineer; papers relating to personnel; papers relating to the Deephams sewage works, Edmonton, including contracts, administration, photographs and inspections; papers relating to general sludge disposal; papers relating to Rammey Marsh sludge disposal works, the Chingford disposal works, Enfield sewage pumping main and Wanstead and Woodford works; papers relating to sewer construction, including the Cuffley Brook branch sewer, East Barnet sewer, Lea Valley sewer, Tottenham low level sewer, Waltham Holy Cross branch sewer, and Wood Green sewer.
Maps and plans of Cuffley Brook sewer, East Barnet branch sewer, Lea Valley low level sewer, Tottenham low level sewer, Waltham Abbey sewer and Deephams sewerage works.
MCC/CL/EMD: General files; MCC/CL/EMD/MP: Maps and plans.
Available for general access.
Copyright to these records rests with the Corporation of London.
English
Fit
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
Further records relating to the Deephams Sewage Works can be found in the records of the Greater London Council (reference GLC). See also MCC/CL/L/EMD.
For further information on the history of the Middlesex County Council please see Middlesex by Sir Clifford Radcliffe (2 editions, 1939 and 1953), LMA Library reference 97.09 MID; and The County Council of the Administrative County of Middlesex: 76 years of local government, 1 April 1889 to 31 March 1965, by Middlesex County Council (1965), LMA library reference S97.09 MID.
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997. April to June 2009 Waltham Cross Western Europe UK England London Haringey Wood Green Deephams Sewage Treatment Works Clerk's Department , Middlesex County Council MCC , Middlesex County Council x Middlesex County Council Waste treatment Sewers Industrial facilities Waterworks Sewage works Hydraulic engineering Drainage engineering Drainage Water resources Sewerage Environmental engineering Sanitation Waste disposal Sewage disposal Scientific personnel Scientists Engineers Hertfordshire East Barnet Barnet Lea, river Chingford Edmonton Middlesex Waltham Forest Tottenham Woodford Redbridge Ramney Marsh Enfield Lee, river Wanstead Europe Facilities Engineering personnel Personnel People by occupation People
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Acquired with the records of its parent authority, the Middlesex County Council, and with successor authorities.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Records of the Middlesex County Council Clerk's Department relating to East Middlesex drainage, 1939-1965, including papers of the East Middlesex Drainage Committee; correspondence with consulting engineers; reports by the County Drainage Engineer; papers relating to personnel; papers relating to the Deephams sewage works, Edmonton, including contracts, administration, photographs and inspections; papers relating to general sludge disposal; papers relating to Rammey Marsh sludge disposal works, the Chingford disposal works, Enfield sewage pumping main and Wanstead and Woodford works; papers relating to sewer construction, including the Cuffley Brook branch sewer, East Barnet sewer, Lea Valley sewer, Tottenham low level sewer, Waltham Holy Cross branch sewer, and Wood Green sewer.
Maps and plans of Cuffley Brook sewer, East Barnet branch sewer, Lea Valley low level sewer, Tottenham low level sewer, Waltham Abbey sewer and Deephams sewerage works.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
MCC/CL/EMD: General files; MCC/CL/EMD/MP: Maps and plans.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Available for general access.
Conditions governing reproduction
Copyright to these records rests with the Corporation of London.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Further records relating to the Deephams Sewage Works can be found in the records of the Greater London Council (reference GLC). See also MCC/CL/L/EMD.
Finding aids
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Publication note
Notes area
Note
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English