Number 19 Sewer Ventilation Column in Rotherfield Road (east side) at junction with Talbot Road

A sewer ventilation column of around 1896-1903, located on the east side of Rotherfield Road at its junction with Talbot Road, Carshalton, LB Sutton. Constructed by W Macfarlane & Co, for a sewerage scheme by Baldwin Latham (1836-1917) and one of around 28 remaining in Carshalton.

MATERIALS: cast-iron

DETAILS: the cylindrical sewer ventilation column is around 9m high and is designed to resemble a Classical column with pedestal, moulded base and enriched capital. It is constructed of two conjoined lengths of pipe, linked with a flanged joint. On top of the capital is an ornate arrow, thought either to orientate the vent into the wind or to indicate the line of the sewer. This in turn is surmounted by a ball with vents facing in all four directions. The sewer ventilation column would have originally had a tall finial encircled with a coronet, but these decorative features are no longer present. The pedestal is marked with the name ‘W MACFARLANE & CO, GLASGOW’.