Engine House

The last time one of the beam engines at Crossness Sewage Treatment Works was used was in 1953 during the emergency of a storm surge. Thereafter the engines and the building housing them were allowed to deteriorate, although an early proposal to sell the engines and associated metal work for scrap fortunately did not proceed since the cost of demolition exceeded the scrap value.

In 1972 the public were admitted to the over 100 years old Grade I Engine House. Recognising the importance of the building and its sorry state BCS offered to organise working parties to repaint the central wrought iron screens. The GLC Historic Buildings Board welcomed this with enthusiasm. Although there was no real progress for the next ten years or so, behind the scenes BCS continued to keep a close eye on the situation and actively supported planning proposals for certain protective measures which, it was hoped, would lead to the eventual restoration of the Engine House. Clearly this BCS vigilance bore fruit because in 1985, under the aegis of the GLC a steering committee was set up with representatives of the GLC, Bexley Council, Thames Water Authority, Greater London Industrial Archaeological Society and BCS. The Society’s representative was asked to prepare a report on the possibility for, and cost of, restoring the engines. His report was accepted and the Crossness Beam Engines Preservation Group was formed to carry out the restoration. This body later became the Crossness Engines Trust, a registered charity and Limited Liability Company.

In 1986 Thames Water Authority agreed to lease the Engines, Engine House complex and certain ancillary buildings with surrounding land to the Crossness Engines Trust. At that time the Trust had not been registered, so in the interim, work slowly proceeded under the Crossness Beam Engines Preservation Group on which BCS was well represented. Work proceeded until 1989 when Thames Water Utilities Ltd the successor to Thames Water Authority, suddenly excluded the volunteer workers from the site. After some two years of intensive negotiations agreement was reached and the newly formed Trust resumed the work of restoration. After the fulfilment of certain conditions, the long-promised lease was granted.

Subsequent reports showed continued progress on this considerable undertaking which by 2001 was attracting Heritage Lottery Fund support and substantial interest in both local and national Press.

BCS has been fully represented on the management of this endeavour throughout and it is virtually certain that, without the enthusiasm, expertise and persistence of certain BCS members, the project would not have got off the ground.

In a nice historical touch the present Chairman of the trust is Peter Bazalgette, the great-great-grandson of Sir Joseph Bazalgette who, as Chief Engineer of the Metropolitan Board of Works, was responsible for the 19th century Metropolitan Main Drainage Scheme which included the works at Crossness.

Conservation Area

In 1996 BCS proposed that Crossness Southern Outfall Works (i.e. the 19th Century components of the current Crossness Sewage Treatment Works) should be designated a Conservation Area and this was approved by the Council in 1997. Some difficulty was encountered over the proposed line for the National Cycle Route through the area but agreement was finally reached in 1999.

A description of the Crossness Southern Outfall Works as they appeared in 1890 can be found in a Feature Article re-published in 1996.

Bexley Civic Society