Crossness Pumping Station celebrates 160th anniversary

Hundreds of visitors mark the birthday at special open day.

The famous ‘Cathedral on the Marshes’, the Crossness Pumping Station has marked its 160th anniversary with a special open day. Hundreds of visitors came to join the celebrations at the site near Abbey Wood. 
 

Visitors were able to see the famous engines at work, listen to music performed by the Belvedere Concert Band and learn more about the history of the facility. They were able to arrive on a special vintage Routemaster bus which ran from Abbey Wood Station.

The Prince Consort Beam Engine was running all weekend, showcasing a historical piece of Victorian engineering, and learn more about life in Victorian times and understand how London’s groundbreaking sewerage system came to life. 
 

Crossness Pumping Station began construction in the late 1850s before opening in 1865. Designed by Sir Joseph Bazalgette, the site was built to address sewage issues that had caused three cholera outbreaks in London, one of which alone led to the deaths of 14, 000 people.

Visitors also learned about what people used to clean their bottoms before toilet paper was invented! These included lace and newspapers but people also used old ropes - and mussel shells!

Learn more about this historic site here:

https://crossness.org.uk