Markfield Beam Engine, Victorian sewage works

In 2017 I visited the Crossness pumping station in SE London. May 2019 I visited a smaller pumping station, at the Markfield Beam Engine and Museum, originally known as Markfield Road Pumping Station. This is located in south Tottenham, between Tottenham Hale and Seven Sisters in NE London, close to the River Lee (aka Lea). The area is now a public park, known as Markfield Park.

The Victorian sewage pumping beam engine is housed in a Grade II listed building. The 100 horsepower (75 kW) beam engine, originally built in 1886 was use to pump sewage from Tottenham towards the Beckton Works. The sewage arrived at the building some way below ground and was pumped up by the engine and then sent out to the storage and filter tanks. Originally it was discharged into the River Lee, until the site was connected to the London sewer system.

The sewage works opened in 1864. The engine was built in 1886 and commissioned in 1888. It was used continuously until 1905, when it was relegated to occasional duty for stormwater pumping. The works were finally closed for operation in 1964.

Over £3 million has been spent on restoring the engine, building and surrounding grounds. The restoration was complete by April 2010, and the museum now has open days. I went to visit on one of the steam days. Surprisingly entry is free, despite the high cost of running the engine. Of course they welcome donations.

The Markfield Beam Engine is housed in the original building, above. It is a free-standing steam engine with a 27 feet (8.2 m) flywheel that moves a 21 feet (6.4 m) beam. The beam drives two single-acting plunger pumps. When the machine was operational it had a working speed of 16 rpm and each pumps could move 2,000,000 imperial gallons (4 million gallons / 9,100,000 l) a day.

The engine framework has 8 columns and is finely decorated, with doric style columns and acanthus leaves. The acanthus is one of the most common plant forms to make foliage ornament and decoration.

I got there early and was able to look around. I was also allowed to go downstairs and see the 2 plunger pumps and the pipe which carried the sewage out to the settling area -

During the early days when the sewage was discharged into the River Lee, this caused contamination of East London's water supply and Tottenham's death rate rose rapidly. 

When there was sufficient steam and the metalwork had warmed up, the flywheel was released and everything started working -

The River Lee -

Webpage of Markfield Beam Engine and Museum.

A few days later I visited Abbey Mills pumping station.