The British English Podcast Bitesize Ep 105: A Shocking Chapter of British History: The Day London Nearly Drowned in Dung
Sep 4, 2025
Delve into an astonishing tale from 1894 about London's near catastrophe under horse manure! Discover how this bizarre crisis shaped urban planning and sanitation. The discussion brings to light the Victorian struggle with waste management and the public health implications of living in a city besieged by dung. Learn colorful British expressions and advanced vocabulary as the hosts draw parallels between historical and modern challenges. Get ready for a quirky journey through a sticky chapter of British history!
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The Shocking 1894 Prediction
- In 1894 a Times writer predicted every London street would be buried under nine feet of manure in 50 years.
- Charlie describes the surreal image of Londoners wading through endless piles of horse dung to reach shops.
A Global Urban Crisis
- Cities worldwide faced the same exponential manure problem from massive horse use.
- Delegates at the 1898 urban planning conference quickly admitted defeat and found no solution.
Horse Armies And Tonnes Of Waste
- By the 1890s London used about 50,000 working horses and New York over 100,000, producing 1,000 tonnes of manure daily in London.
- Charlie compares that mass to 1,000 Mazda MX-5 cars to convey the staggering volume.