Advertisement

Huge crowds are flocking to see a slice of fatberg on display in London

The fatberg was discovered in Whitechapel sewers last September (Picture: PA)
The fatberg was discovered in Whitechapel sewers last September (Picture: PA)

A slice of congealed, fat, oil and wet wipes could be preserved at the Museum of London, after it went on display to huge crowds.

The piece of ‘fatberg’ was taken from a ‘monster fatberg’ that weighed over 130 tonnes and measured 250ft long when it was discovered under the streets of Whitechapel.

But museum curator Vikki Sparkes says that the display has caused a ’marked increase’ in visitors – and they’re now thinking of preserving it when it finishes its exhibition this week.

During its time on display, the lump has began to ‘sweat’, change colour and flies have hatched in it.

It’s hoped that the fatberg will be placed in an archive (PA)
It’s hoped that the fatberg will be placed in an archive (PA)
It has continually changed colour and flies have hatched within it (PA)
It has continually changed colour and flies have hatched within it (PA)

‘We’ve never worked on anything like it’, Ms Sparkes told the BBC.

‘It’s under our feet, it grows. We’re all responsible for creating it.’

The museum is now considering the possibility of keeping the item in its archive, instead of throwing it away.

After the museum ends, it will go into ‘quarantine’ where it will be treated with the usual health and safety regulations required for sewage.

The rest of the fatberg was transformed into biofuel
The rest of the fatberg was transformed into biofuel

In July, the museum’s collection committee will decide whether it will be kept as an artefact, on storage or display, instead of being returned to the rubbish.

The rest of the fatburg, meanwhile, has been converted into biofuel.

It’s also proved to be the most unlikely of creative inspirations – with children’s stories being written and a fat burg musical in development.