History Talk, Monday 5th October - The Mercenary River: Private Greed, Public Good.

A History of London's Water Supply by Nick Higham

 Kyn Hurlingham, 28 Daisy Lane SW6 6DD at 3pm

Booking essential due to limited numbers. Click here to register interest

The recent drought warnings and hosepipe bans remind us how vulnerable London is to variations in its water supply. It has always been the case.

London is by far the largest city in Western Europe and its growth over the centuries has required great ingenuity to maintain a water supply for people, livestock, market gardens and industry. Ingenuity and a fair bit of skulduggery as well.

The supply of potable water (at times in name only) led to great feats of engineering, the creation of artificial rivers/canals, technological breakthroughs in transmission and purification; it led to our first limited liability companies, public offers, wealth and bankruptcy; above all, it supplied all areas of daily life and sustained the metropolis.

Refreshments will be provided after the talk.