Building MPM781 - NUMBER 1 PUMPING STATION (BUILDING NUMBER 2/201)

Red brick dock pumping station completed in 1878. Part of scheme drawn up by Colonel Sir Andrew Clarke (Royal Engineers) and supervised by H Wood, J MacDonell and Charles Colson. The engine house originally contained two inverted vertical triple expansion steam engines driving plunger pumps for draining the docks. It also housed the air compressors for the caissons and some of the capstans and cranes. Built into the roof were salt water tanks linked to the salt water firefighting main. An early and architecturally impressive example of a triple expansion engine pumping house, with unusual structural iron work.