Accumulator tower, hydraulics and bonded stores, Royal Mint St, E1

[editor]

This is a damned clever thing:

"The hydraulic accumulator tower was constructed at the W end of the site in at least two phases at some time between 1894 and 1913, when it was surveyed for the 3rd edition of the Ordnance Survey map. It held a large tank of water which was put under pressure by a weighted piston.

The pressurised water was forced through pipes to provide power to operate machinery such as turntables and a lift to move wagons on and off the viaduct. The depot closed in 1949 and the buildings on the site, with the exception of the accumulator tower and the viaduct, were demolished."

More:
http://www.urban75.org/blog/accumulator-tower-hydraulics-and-bonded-stores-royal-mint-st-e1/

 

[1927]

There used tobe one of these in Barry Docks, it was large black steel thing clad in corrugated iron sheets and was just outside the docks offices. It was used to provide the pressure for things like the lock gates.

 

[_pH_]

It was part of the network built by the London Hydraulic Power Company, including their pumping station at Wapping (now an arts centre) and the Tower Subway which was used after its days as a railway for hydraulic pipes and other services (LHPC built the entrance to the Subway by the Tower of London apparently). The hydraulic power was used to raise Tower Bridge at one point.

I came across a lot of this when I went for a walk round Wapping and Cable Street last year.

 

[lang rabbie]

I remember this leaflet about industrial archaeology around the DLR published when it opened:

Docklands Light Railway - A Journey Through History

 

[cybertect]

It is rather fine, isn't it


Bonded by cybertect, on Flickr

 

[cybertect]

It seems rather a shame that such a fine building should be left to rot.

Oh, and local boy Danny McL reports that may be changing as it's under threat of demolition

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dmcl/4627228716/

 

[cybertect]

I noticed yesterday that new hoardings have gone up around the site


Fallingwater by cybertect, on Flickr