Stench Pipe

The following building shall be added to the list:-

TQ 58 SE THURROCK, FORMER UD BELHUS WOODS

4/10009 Stench Pipe

• II

Stench pipe. Probably mid C18 and part of the C18 sewage system for the now demolished Belhus Hall. It comprises a tall octagonal Tudor-style chimney built of hand made bricks with occasional black brick dressings, moulded to top and bottom and standing on a chamfered rectangular plinth of 3 stages. A brick built culvert runs from the site of Belhus Hall to the foot of the south side of the chimney and an opening on its north side lies beside a rectilinear earth channel. To the east and west of the chimney the channel is revetted in brick. The chimney probably acted as a foul air vent for sewage flushed into and then pumped along the culvert. From the culvert the sewage was possibly deposited into the earth channel where after settling it was spread onto nearby fields. The chimney also acted as an eyecatcher. Included as an unusually elaborate and ornamental example of a rare and interesting building type.

Listing NGR: TQ5735681955