Intermediate Engine House

[Konqi]

Found these ages ago.

They are stills from footage of a Cycle Cross at Crystal Palace.

February 1970:





and one from 1968

[tulse hill terry]

Welcome back!

[Konqi]

welcome back? I've only just arrived.

[Princess88]

Hi, can you please tell me where these photos were taken? I can't work out where it is, thank you!

[Konqi]

certainly

this is an 1853 map and I have circle the area in red.


But sadly all three engine houses (higher, intermediate and lower) were pulled down around 1969-1970.

[tulse hill terry]

A big chunk of text, but it might help to explain the purpose of these three engine houses, in relation to the lakes, tanks and reservoirs for the fountains at the Crystal Palace at Sydenham.

It comes from the 1854 and 1858 Editions of the Guide To The Crystal Palace. As the fountains weren't finished until 1856, it's been a little difficult to combine the two slightly different accounts to give the most information. I have underlined a passage from the later addition, that shows that extra water supplies were still needed to feed the system of fountains.

In July, 1852, the supply of water for the fountains and other great works in connexion with the Crystal Palace, first seriously engaged the attention of the Directors. Various proposals were made, and suggestions offered: some were at once rejected: others, although not free from difficulties, were taken into consideration. The most feasible of these was that which involved the extension to Sydenham of the pipes of one of the nearest London water-work companies, -- a measure that would at once secure a sufficient supply of tolerably good water. Against the proposition for sinking a well on the grounds, it was urged that the neighbourhood is almost destitute of water; that wells already excavated to the depth of two hundred feet had yielded but a small supply; and that even if a sufficient supply could be secured by digging, the water obtained could never be raised to the top of the hill.

Acting, however, upon sound advice, and after due consideration, the company commenced the sinking of an artesian well at the foot of the hill on which the Palace stands, and after proceeding to a depth of 250 feet, their efforts were rewarded. They have now carried the well down 570 feet from the surface, and require only time to complete their operations and to secure water sufficient for their novel and interesting displays

In the present case, the water which appears in the well comes from a reservoir lying between the London clay and the green sand as its upper and lower envelopes. This reservoir is upplied by rain-water, which, percolating the London clay, sand and chalk, and finding an impediment to its downward progress on reaching the greensand, flows into the space between the hardclay and greensand, as into a cistern. The process by which the reservoir is supplied is continuous, the water finding its way down to it as if by a series of small tubes, and pressing against the lower surface of the clay with a force which, if unresisted, would raise it to the level from which it descended. When the clay is pierced by the auger it is evident that this force is free to act, the resistance of the clay at the point where it is pierced being removed, and accordingly the water rises in the bore to the level from which it is supplied, and will continue to do so as long as the percolation lasts. The chief difficulty to be overcome was the great thickness of the substratum of chalk, which extends, probably, to a depth of about 1000 feet. The well, now completed, is a brick shaft 8 ½ feet in diameter, 247 feet deep, from whence an Artesian bore descends 328 feet, making the entire depth 575 feet. It is situated at the bottom of the Garden, near the archery Ground.

An abundant supply of water shall have having been brought to the foot of the hill, and the supplies of a neighbouring water company, it will be was necessary not only to raise it to the top, on a level with the building, but also to elevate it to a sufficient height for obtaining the fall requisite for fountains to throw up water to a height varying from 70 5 to 250 280 feet. The following is a brief outline of the arrangements now making to effect these objects ;-

Three reservoirs have been formed at different levels in the grounds, the lowest one being on the same level as the largest basins placed nearly at the base of the hill; the second, or intermediate reservoir, is higher up, and in a line with the basin in the centre walk; whilst the third, or upper reservoir, stands on the top of the hill immediately adjoining the north end of the building. Next to the Artesian Well, a small an engine is placed which raises the water required to be permanently maintained in the reservoirs and in the basins of the fountains, and which will subsequently supply, or keep up the water that is lost by waste and evaporation.

The reservoir on the summit of the hill contains the water required for the use of the building, and for the fountains throughout the grounds. Close to this reservoir is an engine-house, containing the steam-engines that raise part of the water in the reservoir into two large tanks (1854 Editon each capable of holding 200,000 gallons of water, placed at the summit of the square towers terminating the wings From those towers the water flows to the basins in the grounds, and there throws up jets of 70 to 120 feet in height. These engines likewise lift to a proper elevation the water necessary for the interior of the building, and for making proper provision against fire.) erected on columns at the north end of the building close to the jundtion of the Sydenham and Dulwhich roads. The columns, twenty four in number, are of hollowed cast iron, 1 foot in diameter. The central column, which is 2 feet in diameter, supporting a portion of the superincumbent weight, and making up the number, twenty-five, is the water-pipe, by which the tank is fed, and which forms also the conduit to the fountains in the building, and on the terraces. These two distinct actions of filling the tank and working the fountains proceed simultaneously throught he same pipe. On the top of these columns are massive girders which support the plates, forming the bottom of the tank. The height from the stone curb of the reservoir to the bottom of the tank is 65 feet; the tanks are each 47 feet square by 15 feet deep, and capable of containing 207,000 gallons or about 900 tons of water. They supply also the water required in the building for the plants, and kitchens, and charge the pipes provided against casualties from fire. The vast residue of the water in the great upper reservoir, in consequence of the sloping character of the ground, does not need any help from the engines, but flows direct to fountains on a lower level, and plays smaller jets (1854 Edition The remainder of the water in the top reservoir, in consequence of the sloping character of the ground, will not need any help from the engines, but will flow direct to fountains on a lower level, and play smaller jets.) Through the same convenience, the waste water from the upper fountains will be used a second time in the lower fountains.

The centre or intermediate reservoir collects the waste water from the displays which take place on ordinary days, and which will include all the fountains save the two largest and the cascades. Attached to this reservoir are also engines which pump the water back to the upper reservoir. The lowest reservoir collects similarly the waste water from the displays which will be presented in the two largest fountains, which cannot play until the towers, which have to supply jets of 250 feet high, are built at each end of the building, the water-works of the Palace will shortly be complete in every respect.on the days of the great exhibition, and its engines return the water at once to the top level.

This last paragraph printed only in the 1854 Edition of the guide.

From the above simple statement it will be seen, that the arrangements for supplying the fountains with water are at once simple, complete, and based upon the most economical principles. The engine power employed is that of three hundred and twenty horses; the water itself is conveyed to and from the reservoirs in pipes varying from three feet to one inch in diameter; and the weight of piping may be set down at 4000 tons, its length roughly estimated, at ten miles.

[Konqi]

some of the higher engine house:

can just see it in the background:







However I have never seen any photos of the lower engine house. I assume it looks the same as the other two. Anyone else have any photos of that?