East London Waterworks Co

1903. Engines by Yarrow of Poplar, The larger one is for the East London Water Company, the other being for a torpedo boat

1904

of St Helens Place, Bishopsgate, London

1679 Originated by Thomas Neale

Waterworks constructed by Rennie

Carried out under various names and owners until 1807 when it was styled East London Waterworks Co by Act of Parliament.

The Act also allowed the company to acquired the works at Shadwell and West Ham from the London Docks Co

1809 Ceremonial opening of the East London Waterworks which took water from the River Lea, into reservoirs and then pumped by steam-engines to the entry point for the mains serving East London; Mr Ralph Walker was the company's engineer

1829 Thomas Wicksteed was chosen as Engineer to the East London Waterworks Co out of 32 candidates.

c.1840 Thomas Wicksteed was Engineer to the company

1860 The company took over the site of the mill at Walthamstow previously used by the British Copper Co

1862 Rights issue to raise capital

1850s and 1860s Charles Greaves was Engineer to the company

1875 George Seaton was appointed engineer-in-chief; in that capacity he designed and successfully executed extensive additions to the works at Lea Bridge, Woodford, and Buckhurst Hill, including filter-beds, covered reservoirs, a high-service tank, and two sets of pumping engines.

1895 Illustrations and brief description of a set of deep-well pumping engines, constructed by John Cochrane of Barrhead, to the specification of W. B. Bryan, the engineer to the East London Water Works Company, and erected at their Chingford Mill Pumping Station. Horizontal quadruple-expansion engine. 'The high-pressure and the first intermediate cylinder drive on to one crank, and the second intermediate and low-pressure cylinder on to a second crank, set at right angles to the first. The diameters of the cylinders are as follows: High-pressure, 12 in.; first intermediate, 17 in. ; second intermediate, 24 in. ; and low-pressure, 30 in., the stroke in each case being 30 in. The high and first intermediate cylinders have Corliss valves controlled directly by the governor, the release gear being that known as the Cochrane-Cameron. The other cylinders are fitted with slide valves and Meyer’s expansion gear, the cut-off being variable by hand whilst the engine is running. The initial steam pressure is 160 lb. per square inch, the supply being obtained from two Lancashire boilers, only one of which, however, is in use at a time, the other being a stand-by. The crankshaft runs at a speed of 75 revolutions per minute. A pinion mounted on this shaft gears with a large spurwheel keyed to the pump shaft, connection being made to the pumps by connecting-rods and bellcranks, as shown. These pumps have a diameter of 21 in., and the rising main is 23 in. in diameter. The engine is of very substantial construction, and special attention has been paid to the lubricating arrangements.'

1898 As a result of annual rainfall being only half the normal level, the company introduced an intermittent supply; other water companies were also suffering but several had been able to help the East London, in particular the Southwark and Vauxhall Water Co which made a connection with the mains of the company through the Tower Subway

1901 Two further reservoirs were being constructed

1903 Compulsorily acquired by the Metropolitan Water Board, established to bring the 9 private water companies supplying water to London under a single public body.

1904 Two new reservoirs were commissioned, located near Angel Road railway station

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