Khlong Sathon

During the King Chulalongkorn (Rama V)'s reign, Luang Sathon Racha Yut (หลวงสาทรราชายุตก์), also known as Chao Sua Yom (เจ้าสัวยม), a wealthy businessman, was commissioned in 1892 to dig the canal linking Khlong Thanon Trong (now Rama IV Road) with the Chao Phraya River at a side of Wat Yannawa. The canal was 3.2 km (about 1 mi) length. Luang Sathon Racha Yut dug the canal passing the unitidy area between Si Lom and Ban Wai Roads, he took the soil from the canal to fill for the road construction (Sathon Road). Subsequently, he got the rights over the adjacent land along both sides of the canal. He then developed and divided the land into plots, 240 m² each, sold to the noblemen, foreigners, and the wealthy person. This was regarded as the first land development project of the country.

The name Khlong Sathon was derived from Luang Sathon Racha Yut, the honour title which Chao Sua Yom received from the King Chulalongkorn as a gratuity of his good deed to help developing the city. In the past, the land along both sides on the canal were occupied by big beautiful mansions, decorated with big trees. After Taksin Bridge construction in 1982, the big trees were removed and Sathon Road were enlarged, making the canal has been narrowed since then.[1]

Khlong Sathon starts from the eastern Chao Phraya River under Taksin Bridge near the Chaloem Phan 53 Bridge, on the border between Sathon and Bang Rak Districts and continues along the length of Sathon Road. It bisects Sathon Road; North Sathon (inbound) and South Sathon (outbound), before terminating along with Sathon Road at Witthayu Intersection, a four-way intersection where Sathon combines Rama IV and Witthayu Roads, as well as the beginning of Witthayu Road in the overlapping area of three districts, Bang Rak, Sathon and Pathum Wan near Lumphini Park.