The first pumping station here was in 1881 and this was housed in a corrugated iron shed. The tall chimney of the adjacent boiler house frequently emitted clouds of dense black smoke much to the annoyance of local residents, even although they then lived some distance from the complex. The pumping station we see today was built in 1894 and it was a condition of the freeholder of theland, a Mr Thompson, that the buildings should be of an ornamental character and its design was subject to his approval.
He was obviously aware that the then existing corrugated iron building was an eyesore, and acted as a deterrent to the development of the adjoining land for residential purposes. This obviously had anadverse effect on the value of his adjacent land holdings. It also explains why the buildings cost £13,489 to erect, almost twice the sum estimated by thecompany's engineer who had originally suggested a much more basic and utilitarian structure at a costof £7,596.
Notwithstanding which, the building is not dissimilar in its ornate style to many such structures erectedby water companies in the Victorian era. Not surprisingly, because of its design, the station soon became known locally as "The Mosque". This has caused some confusion in recent years as visiting Muslims to the area, seeking the mosque in Estreham Road, are often directed here in error by local residents. The pumping station and well house sit atop a 1,400ft well (200ft shaft and a 1,200ft bore hole) fromwhich water was pumped for circulation through the mains.
Surprisingly when in use as a pumping station it supplied little water to local consumers and in 1928 the manager here reported that it mainly pumped water to places such as Norwood and Nunhead with Streatham getting its water from Surbiton!The station received a massive new lease of life in the mid 1980s when it was selected to be adapted for use as one of the 11 pumping stations serving the Thames Water Ring Main. This supplies 285mgd to London consumers - half the capitals water supply.
This massive £250m project involved digging an 8ft diameter tunnel over 100ft deep and 50 miles long around London which is large enough to accommodate a London taxi Cab and covers an area of 580square miles. The ring main is the longest tunnel in Britain - almost twice the length of the Channel Tunnel - and is considered to be one of the Britain's greatest engineering achievement's of the 20th century - and oneof its best kept secrets!
It was completed within budget and nearly two years ahead of schedule and was officially opened by the Queen in November 1994.
