London, 1858: The Great Stink That Nearly Drove Parliament Out

The river was so foul that Parliament almost moved out of London. The Great Stink of 1858 - and the sewer that saved the city. This history documentary explores daily life in Victorian London during the summer of 1858: sewage, drinking water, heat and Parliament's response. Follow the story from the Thames to the engineer behind the city's sewer system, and consider the risks hidden in an ordinary drink of water. Chapters 0:00 Welcome to yesterday 0:31 The Capital of the World 1:44 Where It All Goes 2:36 The Water You Drink 3:56 The Hot Summer 4:45 Parliament Holds Its Nose 5:49 The Engineer 7:03 Your Odds Sources Stephen Halliday, The Great Stink of London (1999) Michael Faraday, letter to The Times, July 1855 John Snow, On the Mode of Communication of Cholera (1855) Henry Mayhew, London Labour and the London Poor (1851) Metropolis Local Management Amendment Act (1858) Disclaimer Visuals are AI-generated reconstructions for illustration only. They are not real footage or photographs of the people, places or events described. Narration is based on historical sources listed above; numbers are estimates where noted, and some scenes are dramatized. A new city every other day. Which one should we visit next? Tell us in the comments. #history #london #documentary