Sewer Ventilation Pipe at Sundridge

In February 1882 the Darenth Valley Sewerage was finally connected to the West Kent system at the Dartford outfall…

But all was not good with the new main sewer through Brasted and Sundridge…

The Board minutes for 10 March 1884 record: SUNDRIDGE VENTILATION – Mr Hennell being attended at the meeting stated that as recommended by the Board he had obtained tenders for the erecting of Ventilating Shafts in this parish from 4 parties viz: Messrs Wiltshire, Glover, Saddler and Durtnell: Mr Durtnell being the lowest at £30 for the erection of 4 shafts, 2 of which would be six and two eight inches in diameter, was accordingly approved by the Board

And a month later: BRASTED VENTILATION – Mr Hennell attended the Board and stated that he had received a letter from Mr Tipping of Brasted Place, to the effect that the cottage-owners would consent to the erection of 6 Ventilating shafts upon their premises upon payment of the under mentioned annual sums viz: 6 residents at between 1/- and 2/6d per annum.  It was resolved that Mr Hennell instruct Mr Durtnell to proceed with the necessary works.  In all, by 10 May 1884, eleven shafts had been erected, 3 at Westerham, 4 at Brasted and 4 at Sundridge. But there was an immediate complaint from Mr F H Clark of The White House, Brasted that Mr Durtnell’s installed ventilator pipe beside his property needed to be higher, as it currently blew the effluvia towards his upstairs window…

Board minutes for Monday 11 August 1884: Complaint from Mr Davenport Horley, purchaser of the Dunsdale Estate, pressing for further ventilators to be erected outside his property to replace open gratings. Mr Hennell confirmed to the Board he had been in communication with Mr Horley and was instructed by the Board to carry out the work accordingly. 

The situation dragged on despite weekly flushing of the system by the water works in attempt to remove foul gases emanating from within… The flushing of slow-flowing sewers was done to reduce the gases produced by decomposition of settled solids in the pipe work. It took several years before it was fully understood that flushing was only really effective for some 400-500 feet downstream of the point where flushing water entered the system. Ironically, what eventually made the sewers cleaner was the increase of the number of dwellings built around the turn of the Century. All attached to the main sewer, they collectively contributed with cumulative flushing at many points along the length of the main drain, not just flushing from the head-end, which was the method that had been used up to this time.

Interestingly, some six of Durtnells’ ventilator pipes still exist along the route from Westerham, including the two 8 inch pipes, one just outside Westerham heading towards Brasted on the south side of the A25, and the other on the edge of woodland opposite the grounds of Brasted place on the north side of the A25.