Boiler Houses, Coal Store, Steam Engine House And Link To Great Engine House At Kew Bridge Pumping Station

Boiler houses, a coal store, a steam engine house, and a link corridor, dating from 1836-8, 1845-6, circa 1855-9, and 1890-91. These structures were built for the Grand Junction Water Works Company and are located to the rear and left side of the Main Building and connect it to the Great Engine House.

The original boiler house and coal store, constructed of brown brick in 1836-8, stand immediately behind the Main Building. A linking corridor was added in 1845-6, connecting the boiler house to the Great Engine House. A second boiler house was likely built circa 1855-9, situated behind the connecting corridor. In 1890-91, a steam engine house was erected along the west side of the Main Building, with a high-pressure boiler house attached behind it, followed by a further addition. A later addition behind the original coal store is not of special architectural or historic interest.

The south-facing link corridor is a single storey and three bays wide, featuring a round-arched arcade with archivolts linked by an impost band. It has a double board door leading up steps on the left and two small-pane windows. The later boiler house’s east elevation is gabled with six bays, incorporating a central doorway with a fanlight, flanked by windows recessed with small circular windows above. The left bay retains an original small-pane window, while others have been altered. A double board door is present in the left doorway, and the right doorway has been enlarged. Openings are defined by archivolts linked by a moulded impost band, and gabled ridge lights are also present. The north elevation, with four bays, exhibits segmental-arched windows recessed with an impost band.

The 1890-91 range, facing west, has a chamfered black brick plinth, board doors, 12-pane windows with pivoting casements, stone cills, and lintels, all topped with stepped eaves. A porch was later added to the north end. The original 1836-38 Boiler House and Coal Store are largely hidden by other buildings, but on the east side at the south end, two round-arched windows with glazing bars are visible. Inside the boiler house are further original round-arched openings. The coal store’s north wall features pilaster buttresses. The early boiler house contains iron columns, braced steel trusses, and a gabled ridge light.