Restoring Abbey Mills pumping station’s Victorian splendor

Published on 7th May 2020 by ianVisits in London Ticket Alert

A few years ago, the grand Victorian interior of Abbey Mills Pumping Station was restored, and there’s an online talk about how it was done.

Abbey Mills Pumping Station was created in the mid 19th century by the engineer Sir Joseph Bazalgette and architect, Charles F. Driver. The pumping station has an ornate cast iron interior which in the 1860’s when the pumping station opened had been decorated in an extravagant polychrome scheme.

In 2011, Thames Water commissioned research to investigate the colour scheme and in 2018 work started on recreating the decoration to reveal the full splendour of the Victorian colours.

Via an online lecture hosted by David Parr House, Saskia Huning will talk about the restoration project and introduce you to the fantastic interior of Abbey Mills Pumping station. She will describe working with Helen Hughes whose architectural paint research established the colour scheme.

Full size sample boards were prepared to help with the listed building consent and Saskia will show the progress of the project through to the completion of the colourwork on the central octagon.

Join Saskia for this online talk via Zoom – with attendance by donation to David Parr House.

To reserve a spot, go here.

Tagged with Abbey Mills, thames water, Victorian

SUPPORT THIS WEBSITE

This website has been running now for over a decade, and while advertising revenue contributes to funding the website, it doesn't cover the costs. That is why I have set up a facility with DonorBox where you can contribute to the costs of the website and time invested in writing and research for the news articles.

It's very similar to the way The Guardian and many smaller websites are now seeking to generate an income in the face of rising costs and declining advertising.

Whether it's a one-off donation or a regular giver, every additional support goes a long way to covering the running costs of this website, and keeping you regularly topped up doses of Londony news and facts.

If you like what you read on here, then please support the website here.

Thank you

2 Comments on “Restoring Abbey Mills pumping station’s Victorian splendor”

  1. When you consider what this building was for I.e. pumping sh*t up from the sewers it is an incredibly beautiful edifice.

  2. When the Victorians set their minds to something they did it in style,that’s for sure.