Accumulator Tower And Chimney Stack To East Side Of Tower Bridge Approach

SOUTHWARK

TQ3380 TOWER BRIDGE ROAD 636-1/2/791 (East side) 01/07/83 Accumulator tower and chimney stack to E side of Tower Bridge approach

GV II

Main accumulator tower with chimney stack for Tower Bridge works. 1886-1894. Sir J Wolfe-Barry, engineer. Brown stock brick with grey brick detailing. STYLE: Vanbrughian. PLAN: rectangular plan tower in rising from the Shad Thames level with 3 tall storeys above Bridge approach. EXTERIOR: 3-bay front to road, the outer blind bays slightly advanced as broad quoin piers. Deep parapet with corbelled dies surmounted by block cornice and blocking course, all in brick. Central bay has door to road level with 2 windows above and on top floor, with one at centre on floor between. All have slightly 'Tudor' gauged-brick arches with drip moulds, bull-nosed surrounds and Portland stone sills. Same window details to short returns. Attached to north side at base is tall chimney stack, of square section and slightly battered with the crown detailed in the same fashion as the parapet of the accumulator tower. Top two-thirds rebuilt. The chimney stack is associated with the pair of fine horizontal tandem compound steam engines under the south approach. The tower housed the main accumulator (there being 4 others connected with the bridge) which store up power provided by the water pump it contained.

Listing NGR: TQ3362080097