IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Swan Road, LONDON, SE16 4LG

This pub opened about 1767 and closed in 1850 - it would have been about where the grilled door is on the right, i.e. about 50 yards west of Swan Road. In 1828 a beer house opened opposite the pub and when the pub closed it took over its name. This one closed 1895. The grilled and blue door is part of Charles Hay & Co at number 135. Building on the left is Seaford House of the Swan Estate and in the background can be seen the spire of St Marys Church.

This is not the original but was relocated from a lock pumping station at HM Dockyard, Chatham. Built by J & G Rennie of london, probably in 1879, it remained at use until 1977, latterly on compressed air. It is a most unusual design of horizontal vee (or angle compound) with a vertical crankshaft driving down to a centrifugal pump. Sadly, it was decided that it didn't fit in here and it has now gone to Preston near Canterbury.

Since this photograph was taken the site has gained a metal chimney and lost the interesting steam engine that was preserved inside. On the left is a two cylinder Edwards-type reciprocating air pump that I believe has now been relocated elsewhere. The site is based in the pump house that drained Marc Isambard Brunel's Thames tunnel. The shaft is behind the railings on the right.

The Museum is an educational charity run by volunteers and tells the story of one of the world’s great engineering dynasties. Brunel organised the world’s first underground concert party here in 1827, and the Museum celebrates and interprets music and theatre as well as engineering.

This was recorded from 1757 until 1820 and had an early name of the 'Six Decanters'. Today the street shown is Tunnel Road and the immediate area is quite historic: 1825 Sir Marc Brunel commenced the building of the Thames Tunnel; 1826 his son Isambard took over the project; 1828 building stopped owing to lack of cash; 1836 building recommenced; 1842 tunnel opened for pedestrians by Queen Victoria; 1869 tunnel closed to pedestrians when bought by the East London Railway; 1875 first train travelled along the tunnel; 1884 first train stopped at Rotherhithe. Building shown is the original pump house for the project and to its right is the original air shaft. All this and the 'graft' starting in Rotherhithe and the Queen opens it at the north end! The machine in the image is purely 'decoration' as it is an electrically-driven pump used in the docks from 1929 until 1969.

The south shaft of the original Thames Tunnel at Rotherhithe. The diagonal line on the wall marks the location of the original spiral staircase from when it was a pedestrian tunnel. Until November 2008 this view would have been down onto the tracks of the East London Railway, and such was only accessible to London Underground workers. As part of the refurbishment of the line in 2007-10, a concrete slab has been placed over the tracks to allow safe public viewing of the shaft itself. The small museum in the adjacent Engine House Image will eventually be relocated and enlarged in this space. Meanwhile it can be viewed at weekends in return for a donation to the museum.

The access shaft at the southern end of Marc Brunel's Thames Tunnel has been converted to a concert venue. Previously used for ventilation, the base of the shaft was sealed as part of the Overground works. (Also see Image)

This is the pumping engine house associated with the Rotherhithe end of Marc Brunel's Thames tunnel. The first tunnel under the Thames. The engine house has now had a metal chimney extension on the square brick base seen in the centre.

There is no railway visible on the surface here, but the street runs parallel to the nearby Thames Tunnel (until recently part of the East London Line).