The Great Stink of 1858 on SBS and SBS on Demand – In 1858 thousands of gallons of raw sewage from across London were being dumped into the Thames River every day.
When an extraordinary summer heatwave hit the city, it turned the river into a festering, noxious cesspool of filth. Soon enough, The Great Stink overwhelmed the capital.
Xand van Tulleken reveals how the stench overwhelmed London, spreading sickness and fear, forcing the government to undertake one of the greatest civil engineering projects in history: Joseph Bazalgette’s sewer system.
Then, Raksha Dave investigates the source of the stink and the dangers Londoners faced, while JJ Chalmers explores the lives of Londoners living in a city swimming in excrement.
*Episode one airs at 7.30pm, followed by episode two at 8.30pm.
The Great Stink of 1858 on SBS and SBS on Demand – Series Premiere / Sunday 8 December at 7.30pm (2 Parts)
TV Central SBS content HERE
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