Seething Wells Waterworks and Filter Beds

The Lambeth Waterworks Company began building here in 1847 and opened in 1852; the Chelsea Waterworks Company began in 1854 and opened in 1856. Moving the Lambeth intake upriver to Seething Wells gave John Snow his natural experiment: houses supplied from here had a cholera mortality rate fourteen times lower than houses supplied by the Southwark and Vauxhall company downriver. Both companies later moved their intakes again, to Molesey, because turbulence at the river bends drew too much mud. Thames Water largely decommissioned the works in 1992, and seven decommissioned filter beds roughly 8 m deep survive as the main original infrastructure. The six building entries are the former Chelsea Waterworks Office/Lodge (Building No. 11), NHLE 1253334; the former Chelsea Waterworks Coal Store (Building No 12), NHLE 1080060; the former Chelsea Waterworks Fountain (Building No. 13), NHLE 1261819; the former Lambeth Waterworks uncovered coalstore including tower and attached tunnels, NHLE 1031864; the former Lambeth Waterworks District Offices and Stores Building, NHLE 1390654; and the former Lambeth Waterworks Muniments Building, NHLE 1390655. Two further Grade II entries cover only the boundary railings and walls, NHLE 1253376 and NHLE 1253378, and the eight entries stand within 111 m of one another, measured between the two furthest apart. The Riverside South Conservation Area was designated in February 2003 and covers 22.8 hectares and 240 properties.