The
Thames Embankment is a major feat of 19th century
civil engineering designed to reclaim marshy land next to the
River Thames in central
London. It consists of the
Victoria and
Chelsea Embankment.
There had been a long history of failed proposals to embank the Thames in central London. Embankments along the Thames were first proposed by Christopher Wren in the 1660s, then in 1824 former soldier and aid to George IV, Sir Frederick Trench suggested an embankment known as 'Trench's Terrace' from Blackfriars to Charing Cross. Trench brought a bill to parliament which was blocked by river interests. In the 1830s, the painter John Martin promoted an embankment to contain an intercepting sewer. In January 1842 the City Corporation's adopted a plan designed by James Walker but the plan fell foul of Government infighting. The Government itself built the Chelsea Embankment in 1854 from Chelsea Hospital to Millbank.
Started in 1862, the present embankment on the northern side of the river was primarily designed by Sir Joseph Bazalgette. It incorporates the main low level interceptor sewer from west London, and an underground railway over which a wide road and riverside walkway were also constructed, as well as a retaining wall along the north side of the River Thames. In all Bazalgette's scheme reclaimed 22&_160;acres (89,000&_160;m2) of land from the river.
Much of the granite used in the projects was brought from Lamorna Cove in Cornwall. The quarried stone was shaped into blocks on site before being loaded on to barges and transported up the English Channel into the Thames.
