Imagine standing before a magnificent structure. It’s not a palace or cathedral but the Abbey Mills Pumping Station. This place has been called the Cathedral of Sewage.
Abbey Mills Pumping Station is more than just a building. It’s a testament to Victorian engineering and London’s history. The pumping station stands in Mill Meads in East London. It is operated by Thames Water. This station plays a crucial role in London’s sewage system. It lifts sewage into the Northern Outfall Sewer and the Lee Tunnel. Both lead to Beckton Sewage Treatment Works.
Let’s step back to the mid-19th century. London was grappling with a sanitation crisis. The River Thames was heavily polluted. Cholera outbreaks were common. Something had to be done. Sir Joseph Bazalgette rose to the challenge. He designed a new sewerage system for London. Abbey Mills Pumping Station was a vital part of this plan.
Built between 1865 and 1868, the original station was a marvel. Engineers Edmund Cooper and Charles Driver worked alongside Bazalgette. Eight beam engines powered the pumps. Rothwell and Co. of Bolton built them. The building’s design is striking. It features an elaborate Byzantine style. Its cruciform plan has two engines on each arm. People soon nicknamed it The Cathedral of Sewage. Crossness Pumping Station is another of Bazalgette’s designs. It sits south of the River Thames.
The pumping station’s location has its own story. It stands on the site of a former watermill. Stratford Langthorne Abbey owned the mill. That’s where the name Abbey Mills comes from. The mill was first recorded in 1312 as Wiggemulne. It means the mill of a man called Wicga.
Abbey Mills was built to lift sewage. It moved waste from the Low Level Sewers to the Northern Outfall Sewer. This sewer carried sewage away from central London to Beckton. By the early 20th century, Abbey Mills had increased its pumping capability. Gas engine driven pumps were added.
Interestingly two Moorish styled chimneys once stood tall here. They were unused after 1933. Electric motors had replaced steam power. In 1941, they were demolished. There were fears German bombs might topple them.
Today, Abbey Mills Pumping Station still stands. It has electrical pumps that assist the modern station. The main building is Grade II listed. Many ancillary buildings are also listed. This includes the bases of the demolished chimneys.
A modern pumping station Station F was completed in 1997. It stands near the original station. Allies and Morrison designed it. Both stations can discharge flows into the Lee Tunnel. The Lee Tunnel is a sewage tunnel running to Beckton. It handles millions of tons of overflow sewage. This sewage once went into the River Lea.
Abbey Mills is also the endpoint of the Thames Tideway Tunnel. Sewage will be transferred into the Lee Tunnel. Both tunnels serve as storage reservoirs. They store wastewater during heavy rainfall.
So, as you stand here take a moment to appreciate this unique building. Abbey Mills Pumping Station is an architectural gem. It’s a symbol of Victorian innovation. It is also a reminder of London’s ongoing efforts to manage its waste. From its ornate design to its vital function, Abbey Mills is a fascinating piece of London’s story.