The thought of getting lost here is as alarming as the thought of a close encounter with a sewer rat. Step inside Abbey Mills Pumping Station & prepare to be amazed. For a more detailed map, including interactive features*, visit the Interactive Map. With the entirety painted in lurid technicolour, it would resemble its dolled-up (and easier to visit) sister station; Crossness. All staff are trained and COVID compliant. A large arched tunnel was built at the place, where sewer … The purpose of this particular type of lamp wasn't to illuminate the street by night, although I should imagine it did an adequate job in that respect; but, rather, it was designed to remove and burn off sewer gases and their accompanying hazards. We suggest that you wear appropriate clothing for exploring a pumping station including flat shoes. Victorian engineering at its best. To book a Bubble or Group Tour, or for further information please contact Petra at petra.cox@crossness.org.uk, We look forward to welcoming you to Crossness. The individual listings below have a link to the Eventbrite site to make your booking. When the first of the modern sewer systems were being laid beneath the streets of London in the late 19th century, they brought with them a major and dangerous problem in that methane gas could build up in them which, in turn, led to the alarming possibility of the subterranean sewers exploding beneath the feet of passersby above. Well behaved family pets are also welcome provided they are kept on a lead and under control at all times. It goes down the pipe and off to East London to Beckton Sewage Works. Full information with regard to our Learning and Outreach Programme can be accessed via our 'Learning' link above. of being the last of its kind in London. The tours comply with Visit England’s ‘Good to Go’ COVID safe requirements. Webb went back to the drawing board and, in 1895, he came up with a new lamp, the flame of which was actually powered by town gas, just like the majority of gas lamps, thus allowing a continuous flame to burn 24/7. Here under a thin layer of sewage there is most wonderful looking brickwork and massive metal gates and the system that we Londoners still depend on. There is also a fascinating moment later during our tour when we can see just above our heads metal plates with a notice: “This is London Underground property”. Those gates act like valves and they let sewage out into the Thames but don’t let the river back in. Its pure Byzantine cathedral style (look for a pic of Haghia Sophia in Instanbul.. That’s exactly what I said to my hubby when I saw images of the interior of this amazing building. Historically there were a few places where it needs an extra ‘lift’ and one of these spots is Abbey Mills. So I will keep an eye out for Open London. Here’s one of the huge sewage pipes that pumps London waste out to the treatment works at Beckton. London’s sewer is an amazing place. We have had some dry period recently but when it rains and the sewage overflows it is carried through an outfall sewer. As we are making our way through narrow and low tunnels I’m a bit afraid to look up or touch things.