First explored and named by Zero in early 2007, Serpent's Lair
is a collection of a few varied bits and pieces. The bulk of the drain is an approx two miles stretch of storm relief tunnel,
the Hammersmith storm relief, circular in form and of mostly red brick construction it shares many similarities to other London storm
reliefs of the mid 1920s. At its Thames end it has connections with a sizeable modern concrete chamber beneath Hammersmith pumping station. We spent
our time further upstream looking into access between the connections it shares with the Counter's creek sewer and the low level number 2 intercepting sewer.
As it happens there is no direct access between the Hammersmith storm relief and its connections with the previously mentioned sewers.
As storm reliefs go, this one is particularly nasty, with quite a lot of standing water that you'd be super foolish to disturb.
One particular section sports a crap-tastic array of sanitary debris dangling from the ceiling, poised ready to whip in the face of
the unobservant explorer. The most noteable thing about the storm relief tunnel is the three or four long, drawn out curvacious corners,
they make for some super cool backlit pic opportunties which we don't take very often.
As well as the usual access niches, ladders, steps and stonework the other most noteable feature
is a more recent, arch topped concrete chamber along the path of the storm relief. It seems likely
that the chamber was seen as the simplest option to deal with the junction between the storm relief and
the more modern sewer that crosses its path at this point. We'll likely get back to explore more of this
interesting, if slightly nasty, stretch of West London storm relief.
