Aldgate Pump — Attraction in London

The Aldgate Pump is home to one of the saddest and most horrendous outbreak to hit London.

"In 1860 the water was noted as tasting ‘bright, sparkling and cool, with an agreeable taste."

What people did not realise was that the ‘agreeable’ taste was due to calcium from the bones of dead fellow Londoners! The underground stream, winding its way from Hampstead, had passed through, or near to, many graveyards…

Lots of new graveyards were created in the mid 19th century to accommodate London’s rapidly growing population. The issue therefore got worse and ‘organic matter’ from corpses began seeping into the water.

People drinking from the pump started dying. In fact hundreds died in what became known as the ‘Aldgate Pump epidemic’. Reports were published about how dangerous the water was and experiments carried out showing five times the usual quantity of ‘unusual… solids’. Despite this, some locals resolutely carried on drinking it, leading to more deaths." From the Living London History.

https://livinglondonhistory.com/the-terrible-tale-of-the-deadly-aldgate-pump/

"Following an investigation by the Medical Offer of Health for the City it was found that the water that fed the fountain had been drained all the way from Hampstead in North West London, and during its passage underwater had drained through numerous new graveyards. As the water had passed through the graveyards, the bacteria, germs and calcium from the decaying bodies began to leach into the water supply. The pump was subsequently closed and reconnected to the New River Company’s supply in 1876." From Historic UK written by Ben Johnson - The Aldgate Pump.

https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryMagazine/DestinationsUK/Aldgate-Pump/

When in London, remember to visit this historical Monument. But also remember those that...

The Aldgate Pump, a historic landmark in the heart of London, stands as a testament to the city's complex relationship with public health and urban development. Originating as a well in medieval times, it evolved into a pump by the 16th century. Notoriously, its waters once carried the taste of decay from nearby graveyards, leading to a tragic outbreak of disease. Today, restored and disconnected from its original water source, the pump remains a silent witness to the past, marking the boundary of the East End and serving as a reminder of London's...

“East of Aldgate Pump”. This pump used to indicate the starting point of the East End of London. The pump used to be served by one of London's many underground streams that apparently passed through several graveyards. The water was described as "bright, sparkling, and cool, and of an agreeable taste" however these qualities were later found to be derived from decaying organic matter from the graveyards, and the leaching of calcium from the bones of the dead people. Several hundred people died during the infamous Aldgate...