Formation of the Trust

In December 1980, the buildings and engines were awarded Grade 1 listed status, and John Yates, a steam engine expert and enthusiast, employed in the Historic Buildings Division of the GLC, wrote a paper on the Crossness complex and in this he said, amongst other things "The engines as they now stand reflect the best practices of mechanical engineering in two periods: first, the middle period of steam engineering, largely reliant upon cast iron, and the late period with steel a dominant material. They are certainly the largest surviving rotative beam engines in this country, and are probably the largest in the world. There is no other comparable group of engines in one house. George Watkins, the leading authority on stationary steam plant (has) stated that no similar plant exists in the world, and they fully justify restoration".

Some of the officers in the Thamesmead group, with friends in the former PHE Department, were aware of the-existence of the old Crossness complex, and were allowed on rare and brief visits, to look at the engine house and its contents. Pleas were made from time to time, that some sort of rescue operation ought to be launched. At the same time, unknown to them, the Bexley Civic Society had also been endeavouring to persuade the TWA to, if not restore the complex, at least to preserve it. Neither groups' efforts at that time met with any success.

However in 1985, following steady lobbying, a meeting took place at the offices of the CNSTW, which included representatives of English Heritage; the Greater London Industrial Archaelogy Society, Bexley Civic Society, the Thamesmead Division of the GLC, Bexley London Borough Council, the Association for Industrial Archaeology and the Thames Water Authority. At the end of this meeting, a Steering Committee was formed to look into the possibility of the restoration of some or all of the complex and they ultimately reported that the long term restoration of the buildings and engines was a practical possibility, whereupon the Bexley Civic Society called a Public Meeting in 1985 to discuss the matter. Considerable interest was expressed by the audience, and with their agreement, the Crossness Beam Engines Preservation Group was formed, It was acknowledged that the task of restoring the buildings and the engines would be a major one, but that with the technical knowledge available to the Preservation Group and with the support of those bodies represented at the earlier meeting ar Crossness, the Committee stated that restoration work should proceed with all urgency.

Aims of the Trust

It was recognized that it was essential to put the enterprise on a sound business footing, and so in 1988 the Crossness Engines Trust was created in order to ensure legal standing for the Group’s activities, as public and private money would be involved. All the members and officers of the Group were transferred en bloc to the new Trust, and work continued under the strengthened organization.

Unfortunately, soon after the Trust was established, Thames Water decided that the work of the Trust had to be more strictly organized, and the complex was closed for over two years pending further discussions. Following an intense campaign in the media, and with the support of Bexley Borough and local MPs amongst others, an agreement was reached with the new management of Thames Water that on condition that the Trust carried out certain important work, together with the satisfactory completion of a new road for the public across Thamesmead’s land to the west, a 60-year lease would be granted to the Trust by the end of 1993. At that stage, it would enter upon the site as a bona-fide leaseholder.

In addition to the original target of building and engine restoration, the Trust’s aims include the creation of a Museum of Water Engineering and Public Health with facilities for visitors and meeting rooms.

If the Trust is to succeed in these aims, a very large sum of money will have to be found, far beyond the resources of a voluntary organization. Therefore - although grant aid is being sought from all interested sources - additional financial help by ordinary Members, by Membership subscriptions, contributions at Open Days and the sale of drawings, photographs etc, will have to continue to be sought.

Composition of the Trust

The Board consists of 10 unpaid members, two of whom stand for election/re-election every year. Peter Bazalgette, an independent TV producer and the great-great-grandson of the builder of Crossness, is the Chairman of the Board.

An Executive Committee, consisting of the Vice-Chairman, Treasurer, Executive Secretary and three other elected members meets at approximately monthly intervals, to deal with the routine running of the Trust.

The Trust has some 246 paid-up Members.

Work of the Trust

The Trust is actively building up a Museum of Sanitation Engineering. This will include large and smaller items and a Visitor Centre. An increasing quantity of display material is being collected, of interest to visitors, together with items for sale.

The Trust publishes 'The Crossness Engines Record' four times a year for the benefit of Members and as a historical record of the work.

Students from Greenwich University visit the site each year as part of their first year syllabus. Specific material has been prepared for school parties.

The site is open to visitors, by appointment, on 24 days of the year when a description of the history and a guided tour are provided. Two or three times a year, an Open Day is held when visitors can visit the site at will. A number of kindred organisations are also present on these days.

The Trust operates a library of archival material, books, articles, drawings, slides and videotapes.

To join the Trust, and participate in the restoration work, click here.