The Victorian approach to the sustainability of British Dams

Overview

There has been much talk in recent times about the need to adopt a sustainable approach in every area of our lives. So what is behind the drive to sustainability? According to the United Nations (2019) there is estimated to be over 10 billion people living on the planet by 2100 with the consequent increase in demand for energy and resources. The need to be sustainable will not be a choice but a necessity.

The population explosion within the UK commenced during the 19th century at the start of the Industrial Revolution. Modern Britain was “invented” sometime between 1830 and 1900, coinciding with the height of the dam-building period, driven by industrialisation and the need for a sustainable water supply.

However, with this increasing demand for resources, the Victorians are often cited to be one of the most sustainable generations in UK history, driven by the necessity to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Studying the Victorian period may provoke new ways of thinking about contemporary issues, including the problem of environmental degradation and climate change. 

This presentation will look at two examples of recent remedial works, and compare them or original Victorian construction practices to evaluate whether we are being more or less sustainable in our current approach to construction.