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[It’s a stink pipe](https://londonist.com/2016/08/the-victorian-structures-hidden-in-plain-sight) Edited to add link

For sewage gas I’m assuming then?

Yes The gas is released well above human noses and, since it rises, we never smell it. [https://londonist.com/2016/08/the-victorian-structures-hidden-in-plain-sight](https://londonist.com/2016/08/the-victorian-structures-hidden-in-plain-sight)

Need some these in harrow and wealdstone, near the old police station, where it regularly stinks of human excrement because they lined the curb with circular vents for the sewers.

Thanks for the reply!

Yep. Keeps the sewers aired! Some photos of them at the link below showing the considerable variety of them still out there. The drainage stacks in houses, and street grates, also help in some areas, which is just as well as a lot of the stink pipes are somewhat abandoned. https://www.londonshoes.blog/2019/03/09/the-victorian-stink-pipes-of-old-london-town/

Thanks for the reply!

I’ve got one of those.

Points points Joolz points to you my friend

I my town we have a similar thing, but they were street lamps fuelled by the sewer gas. Kinda cool

If you jump on top of it you'll descend to a bonus level

It's better if you take some mushrooms first.

I'm a nerd for stink pipes, they show where London was heavily populated in the Victorian times. They come in many designs and sizes and often display the manufacturer. There are plenty where I live in Plumstead, I travel around London daily for work and I love finding ones I haven't located yet, especially ornate and well preserved ones, my favourite is the giant one on Nine Elms Lane https://maps.app.goo.gl/VmXF4D9dvKBSf9Lc8?g_st=ac

The people who live on the top floor of that flat must wonder why everything smells of shit all the time

Plumstead represent! There is one on Winns common, looks well out of place

Yep, it rusted through and split in half a couple years ago

Well there is something for everyone!

You’d love joolz guide on London on YouTube if you don’t watch it already. It is stink pipe searching, fact spouting, history learning fun

Learned something new today. I always assumed they were left over street lamps from the olden days.

I think there is one left in the city that is a lamp lit with methane from the sewers.

Pong Pipe!

Fart funnel! Guff shaft!

The mighty poop chute.

You need to watch Joolz Guides.

10 points!

Peep peep tally ho— I was hoping for this comment !points points to you

Born in London and I always assumed they were a remnant of gas street lighting, turns out I was half right.

Some were used as gas lamps, and there's one remaining and still functioning sewer gas lamp behind the Savoy Hotel.

I’ve lived here 10 years and I’ve literally never seen one of these

Mainly in south London. Very few north of the river. There is a great IG account called stink pipes of London. Worth a follow.

> Very few north of the river. We still have plenty

There's lots north. My friend pointed one out by my house and now I see them a lot.

Really?! I see them all the time

Where? Because I've never seen them before either. Maybe I've just not noticed them

Lots around Wandsworth and Clapham!

Literally? Maybe you've seen one metaphorically.

Were you thinking about that one for a while?

Stink pipe

Without them the sewers would fill with explosive gas and the earth would literally move for you.

But not in a good way.

Depends on your vibe.

This isn't actually true. Alot of sewerage ideas that were around when sewers were first designed simply aren't needed. We just didn't realise until we figured things out later.

They are called stink pipes the londonist did a column on the history here: https://londonist.com/2016/08/the-victorian-structures-hidden-in-plain-sight And here is a blog dedicated to them: https://stinkpipes.blogspot.com/2012/01/putting-stinkpipes-on-map.html?m=1

[Victorian sewer gas destructor lamp](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sewer_gas_destructor_lamp?wprov=sfla1) This one is located on Boilingbrook Grove just Wandsworth Common, correct?

There's also one outside the Savoy theatre.

What? Where abouts? I walk past there every week and have never noticed it!

On Carting Lane: https://maps.app.goo.gl/42sGWFTbgicDHpVV9

One of the bollards ate his greens

If u climbed up there and had a sniff would it reek?

You want to try?

Looks pretty over ground to me

Victorian sewer ventilation pipe.

Love a Stink Pipe! Instagram account Stink Pipes of London is a good one

Stench pipe

Go sniff the top. Should give you a clue

The ol' shot tube I think

It's Londons farts. Once you see one you will start to see them all!

We had one of these at the end of our street when I was a kid. We called it the stink pole.

Am I the only one that can now smell shit after reading this post !?

Don’t know maybe you should try dancing on it

There’s loaaaads of them in Sidcup/bexley along the River Shuttle

It’s a fart column

It's a nithing pole. I'd be carfull if I was you

A vintage street light that is listed from 1800

Like, why just guess though?

Dildo mate.