Sewer lamps, such as this one, were invented after The Great Stink of 1858. During this event, London’s sewers created an incredibly foul stench, one so bad that even the House of Commons was aware of the issue. The curtains of the House of Commons were supposedly soaked in chloride in an unsuccessful attempt to keep out the smell. It was said that the smell was so bad that the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Benjamin Disraeli was seen running from chambers with a handkerchief pressed to his face. It didn’t…
