76 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF LEICESTER AND DISTRICT 
scheme was completed in 1891, and consisted of a pumping station and 
14 miles of double 33-in. rising mains, sedimentation tanks, etc. In 
1894 an 8-ft. diameter storm outfall culvert was constructed at a cost of 
£80,000, leading from the Abbey Pumping Station to Wanlip, about four 
miles away, with a discharging capacity of about 80 million gallons per day. 
An increase in the population necessitated further works, and in about 
1902 the sewage from the Belgrave district was, by increased pumping 
plant, dealt with at Beaumont Leys Farm. Further sedimentation tanks 
were constructed, and 12 acres of contact beds laid down. The sewage 
was treated in this manner until 1912, and, despite the fact that the main 
beam engines at the Abbey Pumping Station had been working night and 
day with efficiency for nearly forty years, the town had outgrown their 
pumping capacity, with the result that slight storms overflowed the weir 
discharging into Wanlip. 
A scheme was prepared by the late City Surveyor, Mr. E. George 
Mawbey, in consultation with the late Mr. G. Midgley Taylor. It has 
already been observed that Leicester lies in a basin, and all sewage has 
consequently to be pumped 167 ft. to Beaumont Leys Farm for treatment. 
Belgrave Pumping Station raises the flow from that district, amounting 
to 660,000 gallons d.d.w.f. through a 15-in. pumping main to the old 
high-level works. ‘The remaining d.d.w-f. flows to the Abbey Pumping 
Station, partly through three 5-ft. diameter cast-iron pipes passing under 
the river into the large bellmouth, and partly through the new 5 ft. g in. 
diameter western main outfall, the whole discharging into the new 
screening chamber. The flow enters the screening chamber by a new 
16-ft. by 5-ft. reinforced concrete culvert, and is joined by the western 
main before referred to. ‘The sewage is then screened by four electrically 
driven screens and raking apparatus. It then passes through four 
detritus tanks, 108 ft. long by 20 ft. wide, where heavy mineral matter is 
intercepted. The detritus is removed by an electrically driven travelling 
grab crane which runs along the outer walls of the tanks. The detritus 
is tipped on land which has been purchased by the Corporation for this 
purpose. The sewage flows continuously through these tanks over weirs 
at both inlet and outlet ends. At the latter three times the dry weather 
flow, amounting to 23 million gallons per day, flows direct to the pumps. 
The sewage in excess of the 23 million gallons flows over a weir 148 ft. 
long, through a reinforced concrete spillway to five underground storm 
water tanks, having a total capacity of 24 million gallons. There are 
numerous other ancillary works, and the sewage system to-day in Leicester 
is proving very effective. 
OPEN SPACES AND RECREATION AREAS. 
Leicester has long been known for its numerous open spaces, and 
approximetely one-tenth of its area is appropriated for this purpose. 
The Victoria Park embraces an area of 69 acres. It is situated on the 
main road to London, and was for a number of years used as a race-course. 
The site forms part of the town’s ancient estate, and is now appropriated 
for general use as an open space. It is in this park that Leicester’s 
famous War Memorial, designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens in the form of 
