Across the world, there is a wide variety of unique and exciting destinations and attractions. From the Great Wall of China to the Grand Canyon, there are certain sights that manage to evoke a sense of awe and wonder without fail. Other places, on the other hand, aren’t as awesome as they are terrifying. One such place is the Brighton sewers, a Victorian-era sewer system located in Brighton, England. So, what makes this sewer system so scary? Quite a lot, actually.
Brighton sewers’ history
The Brighton sewers were first constructed in the 1860s, when the city’s output of household sewage began to create unsanitary and odorous conditions for residents. The town council developed a system designed to divert sewage into the ocean instead of channeling it to cesspools behind residential properties. Amazingly, this sewer system is still in use today, even though it was developed before the advent of hydraulic machinery or power equipment.
Though most sewers today are made from reinforced concrete, the Brighton sewer system was made from brick masonry laid over timber supports. These sewage tunnels were made to resemble an egg shape that was more effective at channeling sewage. Other than a couple of steam-powered cranes and pieces of machinery, the excavation, construction and debris removal was completed almost entirely by manual laborers.
Sewer tours
Although many people refer to the Brighton sewer system as a marvelous example of civil engineering at a time when construction and excavation technology was far less sophisticated than it is today, others consider these sewers to be just plain creepy. After all, the dark tunnels, old brickwork and winding pathways through the sewer system do have all the makings of a ghost story backdrop.
What makes the Brighton sewer system unique, you might ask? In addition to its age and design, the system is also one of the few in the world that is open to tourists. The wastewater service in Brighton hosts guided tours of the labyrinth of sewers in the Brighton system from May through September of each year, before heavy precipitation floods the system with storm water runoff. On a tour, guests are guided through various tunnels, corridors and winding stairways that run throughout the sewers. The sewer system covers approximately 30 miles in total, and the tour covers just about 400 yards of this system.
Whether you’re interested in the unique Victorian architecture of the sewer system or you like the idea of exploring an objectively creepy system of tunnels, this is a worthwhile attraction for just about anyone.
Contact a septic and dewatering service in Bethel, OH
If you prefer to leave sewer system exploration to the professionals, you can trust the team at Gullett Sanitation Services Inc. We are a septic and dewatering service in Bethel, OH that has been providing high quality services to its customers for over 75 years. Whether your septic system needs maintenance or you are looking for help with jet aeration or sludge disposal, we would be more than happy to help you. Give us a call today to set up an appointment with one of our professional team members.