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Bradford on Avon Sewage Works

Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire

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Bradford’s sewage works tanks under construction 1907

Disposal of waste was in pits at the back of houses, or collected to be spread on fields as a fertiliser. The chance of polluting water courses, nearby wells and other things with water-borne diseases was very high. Things came to a head following mid-19th century cholera epidemics and the Health of Towns reports. Stephen Moulton, founder of the rubber industry in Bradford, complained to the General Board of Health about the want of a public sewer in 1849.

The Public Health Acts of 1848 and 1873 promoted improvements and the Bradford Town Commissioners employed civil engineer A.W. Estridge to report on the situation. He suggested a scheme costing £3,250, but it was not until 1876 that a cut-down version was made in the form of sewers that ran down from the Tory hillside, Market and Silver Streets and from Trowbridge Road. Some of these used existing stone-lined culverts and discharged directly into the river next to the Town Bridge. When the river level was low, especially in summer, much of the sewage was not carried away and a temporary weir had to be built to raise the water level.

The  Urban District Council’s surveyor, Sydney Howard, proposed a new system in 1899. However, it was not until 1903-1907, with various difficulties, that all the connections were made to a sewage treatment works and large earth-covered holding tanks next to the river, downstream from the town, at a cost of £15,700.

A new modern and larger sewage works was built later in the 20th century up the hill on the other side of the Kennet & Avon Canal. The old brick-built tanks are still there, but are not noticeable under earth and vegetation.

Smaller sewage works serve the villages.

The modern Bradford on Avon sewage works, across the Kennet & Avon Canal