Repro ID: H6332
Title: Father Thames introducing his offspring to the fair city of London.
Description: A 'Punch' illustration from July 1858 - the year of the 'Great Stink'. In the hot summer of that year, the foul state of the Thames - caused partly by industrial pollution, but mainly because raw sewage was discharged straight into the river - was particularly unbearable. Things got so bad that even the workings of Parliament were affected. Not surprisingly, vital decisions to clean up the river were made soon afterwards.
Creator: 'Punch'
Date: 3 July 1858
Credit line: National Maritime Museum
