Beneath the Baumwall train station, do you see that figure standing tall? It’s Sir William Lindley. He stands as a tribute to an engineer whose vision reshaped Hamburg.
Sir William Lindley arrived in Hamburg in 1833. He was initially tasked with planning a railway. It was to connect Hamburg to Bergedorf and Lubeck. But fate had other plans for him.
The Great Fire of 1842 devastated Hamburg. Lindley stepped up. He recommended controlled demolitions to contain the blaze. The city then entrusted him with rebuilding the ravaged Innenstadt.
Lindley’s vision was revolutionary. He designed wider streets. They featured pavements and gas lighting. He also planned a public water supply for every house. No more drawing water from polluted streams.
Sir William Lindley created Europe’s first modern underground sewage system here in Hamburg. It was an innovative solution for its time. He also built public bathhouses. These were accessible to all residents. This promoted better hygiene across all social classes.
The statue of Sir William Lindley is a reminder of his transformative impact. Hansjörg Wagner created the 2.4-meter-high monument. It was unveiled in 1993. It depicts Lindley with a distinguished appearance. Look at his bushy sideburns.
Lindley’s innovations included modernizing the drinking water supply. He created a municipal sewage system. This system efficiently disposed of rainwater and wastewater. It was a first for continental Europe. The system used water from the Alster for self-cleaning. He built intercepting basins. These prevented backflow during high tide. Floodgates at the sewer outlets stopped the Elbe from flooding the city.
Sir William Lindley also oversaw the construction of a new waterworks in Rothenburgsort. This provided clean water to the entire city. A modern gasworks provided gas for lighting and energy. This replaced the old oil lamps.
After Hamburg, Lindley lent his expertise to other cities. These included Wuppertal and Budapest. He died in 1900 at the age of 91.
Standing here, before the statue of Sir William Lindley we also see a small house nearby. That little house is an entry point to Hamburg’s sewer system. In 1877, Kaiser Wilhelm II himself used this access. He even toured the sewers by boat. He praised the surprisingly pure air.
So, as you explore Hamburg, remember Sir William Lindley. His contributions are still felt today. The Sir William Lindley Statue is a testament to his lasting legacy. He shaped the city we see and experience.