Hunger, hygiene & historicism: Writing Britain's waterways 1848 - 1914

In the literature of the Victorian and Edwardian periods, the detrimental impact of waterways improvements is vividly recorded.

Literary works serve as historical documents, reflecting the growing disconnect between ecosystem-dependent populations and public works departments as the likes of Hawksley, Bateman, and Bazalgette extended their hold over Britain's landscape.

Sanitation initiatives, while addressing public health concerns, are depicted in both lesser known and canonical works as inadvertently damaging to wildlife habitats downstream.

These accounts of change serve as critical reflections on the unintended consequences of societal advancements, emphasising the need for a nuanced understanding of human interventions in waterways.