London's first new embankment in 150 years will be named Bazalgette Embankment.
Due to open along the Blackfriars waterfront in 2024, it's one of seven new embankments being created as part of 'super sewer', the Thames Tideway Tunnel.
Sir Joseph Bazalgette is the Victorian engineer credited with masterminding London's modern sewer network in the 1860s, and transforming the public health of London in the process. The sewer system is still used today.
As part of Bazalgette's works, the Victoria and Albert Embankments were created. He's celebrated on the former, with a bust.
Sir Peter Bazlagette, the engineer's great-great-grandson, says:
In my ancestor's day, he too built iconic new embankments which helped shape our famous capital city. It would be an honour to see his name getting the credit it deserves as his system is expanded to cope with modern-day London.
The new embankment will offer 1.5 acres of accessible space, with opportunities for cafes and shops, art installations, and a landscaped area for leisure and recreational use.
The name 'Bazalgette Embankment' is subject to approval by the City of London, but we can hardly seeing them, er, pooh-poohing this.
This is the first time, since the Victoria and Albert Embankments were built in the Victorian era, that new areas of land on the Thames have been created.
