In Victorian England, gas build-up in underground sewers was often a problem for the city dwellers.
But some of these problematic sewers were located in areas where homes were multi-storied making vent pipes ineffective.
Webb expected the lamps to be fueled entirely by sewer gas effectively turning a nuisance into functional street lights.
Londons last sewer lamp.
The flame would die quickly and subsequent unburned methane release would create a nauseous condition in the area.
A single lamp was said to be capable of venting up to three quarters of a mile of sewer.
The lamps remained lit all round the clock.
They still have many of these lamps and some of them are still functioning.
It is now replaced by a replica.
Although an imitation, the lamp has earned Carting Lane the nickname of Farting Lane.
Sewer lamps became obsolete with the change in plumbing practice.
Today, sewage gas is vented out above the roofs through the buildings plumbing system.
The sewer lamp in London.
Photo credit:G Travels/Flickr
A sewer lamp in Park Lane, Sheffield.
Photo credit:Lois Lindemann/Flickr.
Right: A sewer lamp in Psalter Lane, Sheffield.
Photo credit:Frankie Roberto/Flickr
A sewer gas lamp on Rural Lane, Sheffield.
Photo credit:Mick Knapton/Wikimedia
Sources:Historic England/Historic UK/Wikipedia/The History of Sanitary Sewers
