Steam Locomotive Water Point

The Steam Locomotive Water Point is a structure built around 1870, likely designed by the office of Sir George Gilbert Scott for the Midland Railway. It is made of red brick with yellow stone dressings and features an iron water tank inside. The building is rectangular and consists of three tiers. The lower tier has arched doors on the sides, with radiating voussoirs above, and is accented by moulded stone plinth bands and a string course. The middle tier includes seven bay arcades on the long sides, with stone capitals on the pilasters and a mix of brick and stone voussoirs. Above this, there is a corbel table, while the upper tier is entirely made of brick and features a blind arcade with round-headed arches.

Historically, this water point served steam locomotives departing from St Pancras Station. It was established by 1872, at which time the 'Quarterly Review' criticized its Gothic style for being unsuitable for a functional structure. This water point was one of two similar structures, the other of which has since been demolished and originally housed hydraulic lifting gear for raising beer barrels from the station undercroft. The water point became redundant in the early 1960s as steam locomotives were phased out. It was first listed in 1974. Due to the construction of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, the structure was relocated to its current site on Camley Street in November 2001. This relocation involved moving it in three parts and re-erecting it 700 meters north of its original location, with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and engineering support from The Morton Partnership Ltd. The Steam Locomotive Water Point is an exceptional architectural example of its kind and is historically and stylistically connected to the notable St Pancras terminus.