River Effra

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The outlet for the Effra river empties into the Thames by Vauxhall Bridge, from which this shot was taken. (October 2005)

The River Effra is a river in south London, England. It is now underground.

When the London sewerage system was constructed during the mid-19th century, its designer Sir Joseph Bazalgette incorporated flows from the River Effra into his 'high-level interceptory sewer', also known as the Effra sewer, running from Herne Hill eastwards under Peckham and New Cross to Deptford.

The main course of the River Effra was diverted into a sewer and culverts. It can be accessed through the sewers on Effra Road in Brixton, South London and through a drainage grate in the crypts under St. Luke's Church, West Norwood, South London.

1 The route of the Effra
2 The 'Unearthing the Effra' Campaign
3 References
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] The route of the Effra

One branch of the Effra rises near Harold Road in Upper Norwood Recreation Ground, Crystal Palace, London, and flows through West Norwood where it is joined by a local tributary from Knights Hill. A second branch goes through Gipsy Hill, rising on the north side of Westow Hill, passing the east side of Gispy Road, and picks up a tributary at Hamiliton Road, from where it meanders under Clive Road and joins the other branch at Thurlow Park Road. The river crosses Belair Park to Burbage Road and Half Moon Lane in Dulwich. It then works its way back towards Herne Hill railway station where it is joined by another tributary that flows through Leigham Vale, Tulse Hill and Brockwell Park. (John Rocque's map of 1745 called this area around the Station 'Island Green', reflecting the old route of the Effra.)

From Herne Hill it follows the northern line of Brockwell Park and is joined by another tributary near Effra Road, whose source is Brockwell Park, and thence flows uder Brixton's Coldharbour Lane towards the Police Station at Brixton Road. It then follows the road towards Kennington before emptying into the River Thames near Vauxhall Bridge.

Although little more than a stream in the south, until 1935 the encased watercourse flooded during heavy rains every decade or so; an inscription on a white stone tablet high up the side of a building in Elder Road, West Norwood read: FLOOD LEVEL 17th July 1890. After a 3 hour long storm on Sunday 14 June 1914 the sewer overflowed again and flooded houses along its path from Elder Road to Chestnut Road, and locals were forced to evacuate their homes for several days. Further floods in the 1920s prompted works to enlarge the sewer.

[edit] The 'Unearthing the Effra' Campaign

In 1992 a project by the London arts group 'Platform' sparked a local campaign to dig up the river. The 'Unearthing the Effra' project was based around a mock 'Effra Redevelopment Agency', which included a public office. The project gained publicity in local newspapers and radio stations.