[paul cotter (OP)]

Alancalverd and myself were diverting a physics thread with faecal matters. Not wanting to further compromise said thread, i'll put my observations here. I have never seen any of this marvel of civil engineering directly. I have however seen several documentaries about the big stink and the subsequent works including the sewers, pumping station(s), and the thames embankments. The pumping station I saw was a work of sublime art, in my opinion, as well as being functional. I was truly impressed by what I saw and i'm sure the tv did not do full justice to it.

[Petrochemicals]

People of yesteryear knew how to build. Just take a look at the railway stations, cathedrals of engineering, although cathedrals themselves are cathedrals of civil engineering. Those vaulted arches and spires are not due to god.

[alancalverd]

Feast your eyes on this!  https://ivisitlondon.co.uk/london-attractions/crossness-pumping-station/

[paul cotter (OP)]

Thank you Alan, that's a magnificent image. I was correct that my 30+year old crt tv( still manages a degree of perveance ) was not doing justice to this work of high art.

[Bored chemist]

I should really go and have a look at that some time; maybe when I retire.
To be fair, the modern equivalent/ upgrade  is pretty impressive too. It just isn't as decorative.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thames_Tideway_Scheme

[paul cotter (OP)]

I'm getting old, BC, 71 in September and I don't know if I will be visiting London again. But if I do, that pumping station will be on my to-do list.