Visit to Crossness Pumping Station

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. It is located at Crossness Sewage Treatment Works, at the eastern end of the Southern Outfall Sewer and the Ridgeway path in the London Borough of Bexley.

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”.

Timing:

· 10:30 Arrive at Car Park to leave sufficient time to get to Pumping Station

· 11:00 Arrive at Pumping Station / tea and biscuits

· 11:15 Talk – the background to developing the sewer system and something about the Trust

· 12:00 Guided tour

· 13:30 Buffet lunch / view exhibition

· 14:30 Depart

Dress Code:

The dress code for our visit is ‘smart casual’ with comfortable shoes for walking. If rain is forecast please come suitably prepared as some of the tour is outside.

Cost:

The cost per person is £45.00 including entrance fee, refreshments, tour, and a glass of wine at lunchtime.

Getting there:

By Car – Set your satnavs to SE2 9AQ which brings you to Bazalgette Way (previously Belvedere Rd). If the postcode doesn’t give Bazalgette Way you should try the alternative postcode SE2 9XL or use What3Words code “charmingly.cure.tone”. When you arrive at the end of Bazalgette Way you will be directed where to park by a Crossness volunteer.

By Public Transport – The closest railway station is Abbey Wood on the Southeastern network from Charing Cross, Waterloo and London Bridge and the Elizabeth Line from Reading, Heathrow, Shenfield, Paddington, and Liverpool Street. You can also arrive at Abbey Wood on the Superloop bus from Bromley passing through Chislehurst, Sidcup and Bexleyheath. The site is between 2 km (1.3 ml) and 2.7 km (1.7 ml) from Abbey Wood Station depending on the route taken therefore a taxi is recommended. Taxis are available from close to Abbey Wood station at 18 Wilton Road. Book in advance on 0208 311 1199.

NOTE: the car park is situated at the end of Bazalgette Way, to the right, about 40 metres from the Thames Water security gate. A pedestrian route, about 700 metres long, links the car park to the buildings.

If you are a blue badge holder please contact Crossness Pumping Station a few days beforehand by emailing info@crossness.org.uk or by telephone 0208 311 3711, and they will arrange for parking closer to the building.

For further details:

Visit https://crossness.org.uk

Or contact Steward Kevin Thomas on 07966 171764 or kevin@kevinthomastax.com