Crossness Pumping Station Beam Engines

The Crossness Pumping Station is a former sewage pumping station designed by the Metropolitan Board of Works’s chief engineer Sir Joseph Bazalgette and architect Charles Henry Driver. Constructed between 1859 and 1865 by William Webster, as part of Bazalgette’s redevelopment of the London sewerage system, it features spectacular ornamental cast ironwork, that Nikolaus Pevsner described as “a masterpiece of engineering – a Victorian cathedral of ironwork“. The four massive beam engines and the cathedral like interior of their house is a breath-taking experience. All four beam engines were once required to pump the sewage. One is fully restored and is usually steamed on one Sunday a month, one is nearing the end of an extensive restoration and two remain unrestored. The knowledgeable restoration project volunteers are always happy to answer questions. At Crossness, the incoming liquid was raised some 30 to 40 feet by the application of four large steam driven pumps. The engines were of enormous size and power. They were built by James Watt & Co. to Joseph Bazalgette’s designs and specification, and were named “Victoria“, “Prince Consort“, “Albert Edward“ and “Alexandra“. At 11 revolutions per minute, approximately 1,500 imp gal of sewage per stroke per engine were pumped up into a 27-million-imperial-gallon reservoir, and was released into the Thames during the ebbing tide. SMart Music ‘Dance of the Mammoths’ Vlog No Copyright Music