Renovation and Rehabilitation of the Crossness Pumping Station - Case Study Example

THE CROSSNESS PUMPING STATION By Name Course Instructor Institution Location Date The Crossness pumping station Introduction The Crossness pumping station was constructed as a sewerage system to serve part of the London city, constructed between the years 1895 and 1865 by Sir Joseph Bazalgette (Ackroyd 2001). This station has developed since then to the London Sewerage system which now serves the greater parts of London and operated by Thames Water. Since then, this system has been undergoing a lot of rehabilitation developments to become a tourist attraction, apart from being just a sewerage system. The Crossness pumping system is likened to a cathedral and it reopened again in 2016 for public tours, after years of extensive rehabbing and developments (Tingle 2016). The Crossness pumping system looked like this representation here: After rehabilitation and development, the systems is as follows: Origin and History of the Crossness pumping station The Crossness Pumping station was constructed mainly to combat the effects of the ‘Great Stink’ in 1858 where the human use of filthy water as well as the effects of warm weather caused a horrible smell across the city of London, a situation that led to an outbreak of cholera and typhoid (Hickman 2016). Initially, River Thames was an open sewer and at that time, it was having disastrous effects on public health, including causing cholera epidemics as a result of the bacterium Vibrio Cholerae. During these times, contamination of the water supply was correctly diagnosed by Dr. John Snow in 1849, but the real thing that caused the outbreak of 1866 was believed to be the smell (Croad2003). This led to proposals on how to modernize the sewerage system as from 1856, however, execution of the proposals was neglected due to lack of funds. However, the occurrence of the Great Stink in 1858 made the parliament realize that there was an urgent need to create a modern sewerage system so as to help solve the problem of sewage and diseases outbreak across London (Londonist 2016). The responsibility to construct a modern sewerage system was handed over to Joseph Bazalgette, who was a senior civil engineer of the Metropolitan Board of Works. He was also assisted by architect Charles Henry Driver. They designed a comprehensive underground sewerage system that would divert sewage to the Thames Estuary. He constructed six major interceptor sewers that totaled to about 100 miles in length. Intercepting sewers were built between the years 1859 and 1865 and were fed by main sewers of length 720 km. these main sewers in turn conveyed the contents of other smaller local sewers. Interceptor construction needed approximately 318 million bricks, excavated earth of size 2.7 million cubic meters as well as 670,000 cubic meters of concrete. Portland cement was used strengthen the tunnels, which led to a very strong structure that could stay for over 150 years. Joseph and Charles constructed the Crossness Pumping system or the London Sewerage System, which was described by many as a masterpiece of engineering and architecture and also as a Victorian cathedral of ironwork (Smith et al., 2011). The sewerage system was opened officially opened and commissioned in 1865 by the Prince of Wales, Edward whereby he stated that the new system would help in cleansing the city of London. This Project served for several years before it was decommissioned in the 1950s for purposes of rehabilitation and development (Londonist 2016; Sewage, 2012). The Crossness Pumping Station was supported by various improvements over the years in which it operated, with some of these significant improvements being additional pumps, diesel engines as well as the four steam engines that were believed to be the largest set of engines in the world running a given system. This system remained in operation up to the year 1956 when it was decommissioned after the arrival of new sewage treatment plant that was built along the Thames. The Crossness Pumping system was shuttered, but due to the heroics used in building it, certain people became highly interested and had to chip in so as to bring it back to life (Kennedy 2016; Taylor 2015). Rehabilitation and renovation of the Crossness Pumping System After several years of service, the building fell into despair and only needed repair, renovation and new developments for it to remain. Were it not for a group of volunteers who decoded to volunteer themselves and have the remaining structures back from the brink, nothing would be celebrated today as far as the building is concerned. The most unforgettable highlights of the building are the four giant engines that still remain within the building and are believed to be among the largest across the universe (Halliday 2013). These engines that make up the modern Crossness pumping station are named after certain members of the UK royal family; Victoria, Albert Edward, Prince Consort and Alexandra. Visitors are now able to visit the building and can see the engines working, either from below or watch them from above. In addition, Crossness has received financial support of $2.8 million for its renovation from the Heritage Lottery Fund grant. In addition, there have been other sources of income for the rehabilitation of building and these are from the English Heritage among other sources (Kennedy 2016).The money contributed from these sources helped in restoring the building, creating a landscaped building as well as the creation of new museum space mainly for visitors (Londonist 2016; Hickman 2016). The new building, which also acts as a museum is neatly done and has highly engaging displays on the history of the sewerage system, public health as well as sanitation. The building marked its 150th anniversary as a new and highly renovated building which also serves as a museum for visitors within and outside the country. The museum has a lot of space that gives a thought-provoking history of the toilet, a display of surprising items among other items. The new building comprises of a glorious monument which is complete with a new café. Also, its initial business which was sewerage, still operates whereby the monument has a distinctive whiff of sewage that drifts across south-east London. The basis of the developments made in the old building is on new museum display, space and a cafe. The exterior of the building has also been renovated from its original giant humbug-striped chimney to a magnificent one that retains its doorways that are modelled is a shape similar to Norman Cathedrals, together with curved capitals that include Bazalgette’s portrait that looks down to his original work which was self-satisfying (Kennedy 2016). The new building is so attractive such that it continues to invite people from across the world. One of the volunteers who helped in renovating the building says that one of the common responses from people who come visiting is a shocking ‘wow!’ The many engineering and architecture pilgrims who visit the building structure are highly attracted by the four giant steam-powered engines, which are surrounded by polished brass as well as cast-iron columns that are highly dazzling, spiral staircases, screens that have ornaments made of figs, among other laxative qualities (Tingle 2016; Londonist 2016).These are majorly the basis of attraction and have been added onto the original pumping station as constructed back in 1965 by Sir Joseph Bazalgette. Among the people who volunteered to bring back the life of the Crossness Pumping Station were highly interested in heroic Victorian engineering and architecture and were comprised of electricians, engineers, architectures, teachers, an artist, a trade union negotiator as well as an historian, Peter Catterall. Peter Catterall came on an open day when the building was being renovated and was mainly interested in its social and political history, but at the end he found himself constricted. Below is part of the interior of the new Crossness museum (Hickman 2016). (Kennedy 2016). Nature of theCrossness pumping station After the innovation and rehabilitation was done on the original Crossness by Sir Joseph Bazalgette, London is now believed to have the most beautiful museum, which is a 150-year old sewerage pumping system(Hickman 2016). The new structure is now likened to a cathedral and was recently reopened for the public after several years of extensive rehabbing by an army of volunteers who were interested in the heroic Victorian engineering and architecture and had to do what it takes them so as to help retain it. Historian, architects and engineers believe that the city of London has at long last been blessed with a great museum exhibition whose origin can be traced back to the Great Stink of 1858 (Ferrie 2013). The Great stink was foul history changing event that was initially disastrous, but afterwards, it has led to a stench of human excrement whereby mankind can now celebrate from what was once termed as a negative experience. The Crossness pumping station is now an exceptionally state-of-the-art museum that has been created from a sewerage system. Apart from being used as a source of attraction, the renovated Crossness Pumping station is also used to get rid of noxious stink whereby it carries untreated sewage away from the city to the River Thames (Tingle 2016). Many historic building have in the past played key roles in growing modern cities, but that was not the case of the Crossness Pumping Station at first and fell into a state of disrepair. Despite the building being vandalized, it still remained standing and was still granted protection, just like other historical building such as the Tower Bridge, Westminster Abbey and the Buckingham Palace (Londonist 2016). Thanks to the protection given to this building, a group of volunteers looked into the task of restoring the landmark engine house, together with its damaged steam engines. This team began working on the renovations in 1987, and today, more than 20 year later, the task has been completed and the Crossness Pumping station was reopened and has become the most unique museum, in a city that is full of unique museums as well. The new structure is basically a testament to volunteerism as well as over $3.5 million in the form of grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund as well as from other financial grant entities. The main passion for this nature of volunteerism was based on retaining the heroic Victorian engineering and architecture that was used by Sir Joseph Bazalgette in constructing the original Crossness (Kennedy 2016). These volunteers included electricians, engineers, architectures, teachers, an artist, a trade union negotiator as well as an historian. A lot of things have been restored, including the stem engines as well as the multi-hued ironwork. Also, new structures and components have also been added, including a café, landscaped gardens, and exhibit of the Great Stink as well as other historical tidbits related to sanitation (Tingle 2016; Londonist 2016). Conclusion The Crossness Pumping system has come to be what it is as a result of interest in heroic Victorian engineering and architecture. Initially, the building was constructed majorly for purposes of safe sewerage dismissal and, a project done by Joseph Bazalgette, and commissioned in 1865 by the Prince of Wales, Edward whereby he stated that the new system would help in cleansing the city of London. However, after several years, the building was dilapidated and had to be decommissioned in the 1950s (Kennedy 2016). Nevertheless, there were engineers and architects who were highly interested in the heroic Victorian engineering and architecture and had to chip in as volunteers to ensure that the systems comes back to life, this time round as an international museum (Hickman 2016). Thanks to the efforts of these people who mainly comprised of electricians, engineers, architectures, teachers, an artist, a trade union negotiator as well as an historian, Peter Catteral, the building still exists and attracts many people across the world especially those interested in civil engineering and architecture as well as those who wish to satisfy their spirit of adventure by visiting new places. Also, financing from well-wishers has ensured that the Crossness is what it is today. Main sources of financing for the renovation and rehabilitation of the Crossness Pumping System are the Heritage Lottery Fund grant. In addition, there have been other sources of income for the rehabilitation of building and these are from the English Heritage among other sources (Tingle 2016). This paper has discussed the basis of renovation and rehabilitation of the Crossness, several steps undertaken in creating what it is today as well as the main aspects of attraction as a museum. 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Tingle, R, 2016, New museum opens inside a Victorian pumping station dubbed the 'Cistern Chapel' that was originally built to combat the Great Stink of 1858. Available from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3742144/New-museum-opens-inside-Victorian-pumping-station-dubbed-Cistern-Chapel-originally-built-combat-Great-Stink-1858.html . Read More