Collection GB 0074 ACC/3306 - METROPOLITAN WATER BOARD

0.01 linear metres

GB 0074 ACC/3306 1937 Collection 0.01 linear metres Metropolitan Water Board

Early water supply to the city of London came directly from wells and rivers. However, as early as 1236 the fresh water supply was dwindling as the number of residents in the city increased; and works began to bring in fresh water from outside the city. The era of free water gave way to the era of commercial supply with the foundation of the New River Company (1612) and the London Bridge Waterworks (1581). Chelsea Waterworks Company was founded in 1723, and in 1746 laid the first iron water main (pipes were previously made of wood or lead). The Southwark Water Company was founded in 1760, the Lambeth Water Works Company in 1785, the Vauxhall Water Company in 1805, the West Middlesex Waterworks Company in 1806, the East London Waterworks Company in 1807, the Kent Waterworks Company in 1809 and the Grand Junction Waterworks Company in 1811.

It was not until 1902 that the Metropolis Water Act was passed, leading to the creation of the Metropolitan Water Board. This took over eight private water companies, taking over the New River Company headquarters on Rosebery Avenue, Clerkenwell. The board was made up of 66 delegated members, 14 from the London County Council, 31 from the Metropolitan Borough Councils and City Corporation, and 21 from the authorities of localities outside the water companies' areas. From 1907 widespread reservoir and waterworks building was carried out.

From 1974 the administration of the Metropolitan Water Board was transferred to the new Thames Water Authority. In 1989 Thames Water became a private company and set up a principal operating subsidiary, Thames Water Utilities Limited, to supply water and sewerage services.

Donated to the Archive in 1994.

Records of the Metropolitan Water Board, comprising a certificate of long service issued to Thomas Scarth, employed as collector by Chelsea Water Works Company from 1896 and retired from Metropolitan Water Board in 1937.

One item

Available for general access.

Copyright rests with the City of London.

English

Fit

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

For further records of the Metropolitan Water Board see ACC/3818 and LMA/4064. See also Thames Water Predecessors, ACC/2558.

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.

July to October 2009 Company archives Information sources Documents Clergy records Institution certificate Enterprises Companies Utility companies Water companies Employment Metropolitan Water Board

Donated to the Archive in 1994.

Records of the Metropolitan Water Board, comprising a certificate of long service issued to Thomas Scarth, employed as collector by Chelsea Water Works Company from 1896 and retired from Metropolitan Water Board in 1937.

One item

Available for general access.

Copyright rests with the City of London.

• anglais

• latin

English

For further records of the Metropolitan Water Board see ACC/3818 and LMA/4064. See also Thames Water Predecessors, ACC/2558.

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

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.

• anglais