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Crossness Pumping Station to close to the public

I've just found out that Crossness Pumping Station in London is going to close for visits by the public because of issues with asbestos... sad


Not sure how many of you would have visited Crossness but it was built by Sir Joseph Bazalgette as part of the Victorian sewage system for London and opened in 1865. It's a grade 1 listed building and has some outstanding Victorian features as well as still housing the four original pumping engines thought to be the largest rotative beam engines in the world. 


I've had the pleasure of visiting the building myself on one of their open days and it's definitely something to do if you're into engineering of this kind. Well... it will be something to do if the Crossness Engines Trust can raise the £458,000 needed in order for work to be done and the asbestos issues resolved so they can reopen again! 


Visit www.crossness.org.uk if you'd like to learn more about this fascinating building. There are a few photos on their website of the Victorian styled interior but I'll have a look over the next few days to see if I can dig out the photos I took while I was there to share with you all. yes 


  • Hi Lisa,


    Thanks for the heads-up - I'd completely forgotten about Crossness, daft that I've never been there. I've been to Kew a couple of times (also strongly recommended) https://www.waterandsteam.org.uk/


    Another one on my "to do" list is Brede in East Sussex http://bredesteamgiants.co.uk/  which I found out about this summer while chatting to an American woman in a copper mine in Germany!


    Following your post I've now made a small donation to the cause at Crossness...but it's going to take a few more. Hope they get there.


    Cheers,


    Andy from Cornwall - the spiritual home of the beam engine


  • Hi Andy


    Yes I've donated too... smiley


    My father and I go on many Engineering Days out for a bit of 'Daddy and me' time and Crossness was on our list. He's also accompanied me to many IET events and on technical visits as well. blush


    I've also met the Great Great, Great Grandaughter of Sir Bazalgette (Vickie) at a meeting of the IET London Committee in my days as their Staff Co-ordinator.

    She is a STEM ambassador smiley
  • Talking of great paces to visit, I strongly recommend the Internal Fire Museum if you are ever in South West Wales in the summer (seasonal opening hours). They have an amazing array of huge engines and generators, beautifully displayed, and they will run one for you if you ask them nicely. Also amateur radio kit and a fully functional System X telephone exchange to play with. Website is internalfire.com.

    This genny originally powered a transmitter on the Pennines:
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  • Oh, that's a real pity. Here's hoping they raise the funding needed since Crossness really is magnificent.


    But if you need a beam engine steam fix then visit the Crofton engines on the Kennet and Avon canal https://www.croftonbeamengines.org/

    You have missed the last steaming day in 2018 but your patience will be rewarded on 20th April 2019. You'll see an 1812 Boulton and Watt, and a 1846 Harvey engine (in its final form) in working condition.
  • Does anyone here happen to know when the replica Newcomen engine at the Black Country museum will be running again? I understand it's been reboilered this year.


    For visitors to Cornwall next year we have the small but very attractive beam engine steaming at Levant https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/levant-mine-and-beam-engine and, sadly powered by electricity for demonstration purposes but an excellent example of what a Cornish engine house would have looked like, East Pool https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/east-pool-mine


    The most extraordinary beam engine which I'm hoping to get a chance to visit some time is Cruquius in The Netherlands https://www.haarlemmermeermuseum.nl/en/cruquius-museum--world-largest-steam-engine - has anyone here been there?


    Cheers,


    Andy