Crossness Pumping Station is an abandoned sewage pumping station in the London Borough of Bexley. Located at Bazalgette Way, Abbey Wood, London SE2 9AQ. It was built by Metropolitan Board of Works chief engineer Sir Joseph Bazalgette and architect Charles Henry Driver in 1896. Today, it stands at the eastern end of the Southern Outfall Sewer and is accessible by the Ridgeway path. Its design was inspired by the Victorian style. Listed Grade II, the Crossness Pumping Site is an aesthetically pleasing place.
The Crossness Pumping Station is a living memorial to Bazalgette. Although her work was less well known than that of Isambard Brunel, she is arguably as important as Brunel. In 1858, she was appointed commissioner of the Crossness Pumping Station and began work on improvements. During her time as the commissioner, she helped to build the crossness railway tunnel. Go to this website to discover more.
The Crossness Pumping Station is one of the earliest examples of the Victorian era. The Victorian era in London was a boom time for the city. While its population was booming, the sewer system was not up to the task. Overflowing cesspools and rivers of waste suffocated the city, causing a terrible stench. The “Great Stink” was so bad that the government began work on improvements in the 1880s. The Crossness Pumping Station was one of the first improvements in the Victorian era.
The Crossness Pumping Station was opened in 1865 as a part of the Bazalgette’s scheme to make the city more efficient. In the year of 1865, it consisted of a boiler house, beam engine house, valve house, fitting shop, workshops, and a 208-foot chimney. The Crossness Engines emptied into a covered reservoir that held twenty-five million gallons of water. In the years following its completion, the pumps were upgraded to triple expansion engines and reciprocating pumps. In 1947, diesel engines were installed and the beam engine house was made redundant.
The Crossness Pumping Station is home to a number of volunteers. The museum features a museum that features information on the different types of pumps used in the city. The museum is also home to a mystery brass pulley wheel that is attached to the column flowers. During the day, the visitor can walk around and inspect the station’s beautiful ironwork. The entire complex is a popular tourist destination in the City.
The Crossness Pumping Station is located in south east London. You can take the South East Rail train to Abbey Wood and get off at stop N. From there, you can take the shuttle bus to the pumping station. If you do not wish to wait for the shuttle, you can visit the museum by foot. If you’re traveling with a car, you can also take the shuttle from Abbey Wood to the Crossness Pumping.
