51°34′55″N0°3′42″W / 51.58194°N 0.06167°W /51.58194; -0.06167
| Markfield Road Pumping Station | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | Tottenham London,N15 United Kingdom |
| OS grid reference | TQ 34410 88782 |
| Built | 1886; 139 years ago (1886) |
| Original use | Sewage treatment |
| Current use | Museum |
| Owner | Heritage and Communities Trust |
| Website | www |
Listed Building – Grade II | |
| Designated | 1974 |
| Reference no. | 1358862 |
  Location of Markfield Road Pumping Station in London Borough of Haringey | |
Markfield Road Pumping Station, now known asMarkfield Beam Engine and Museum or sometimes just asMarkfield Beam Engine is a Grade IIlisted building containing a 100 horsepower (75 kW)beam engine,[1] originally built in 1886 to pumpsewage fromTottenham towards theBeckton Works.[2] The grounds of the building now form apublic park known asMarkfield Park.[3] TheRiver Moselle joins theRiver Lea at this location.[4]
In 2025 the museum merged withWalthamstow Pumphouse Museum to form theHeritage and Communities Trust.[5]
Markfield Beam Engine is a free-standingsteam engine with a 27 feet (8.2 m)flywheel that moves a 21 feet (6.4 m) beam. The beam drives two single-actingplunger pumps. Each pump is 26inches in diameter and has a 51-inchstroke. When the machine was operational it had a working speed of 16rpm and each pump could move 2,000,000 imperial gallons (9,100,000 L; 2,400,000 US gal) a day.[6][7]
The engine is finely decorated, withdoric style columns andacanthus leaves.
The sewage works opened in 1864, The scheme was led by the Tottenham and Wood Green Drainage Board, and was connected to theLondon County Council drainage system and theNorthern Outfall Sewer.[8] The current beam engine was built by Wood Brothers ofSowerby Bridge, Yorkshire, in 1886 and commissioned in 1888, replacing an earlier 45 horsepower beam engine.[9] It is the only surviving Wood Brothers eight column engine in situ.[10] It was used continuously from its installation until 1905, when it was relegated to occasional duty forstormwater pumping. The works were finally closed for operation in February 1964, having been replaced byDeephams Sewage Treatment Works in Edmonton.[2]
In 1970, theRiver Lee Regional Park Authority took a lease on the engine house, and a group of volunteers took on the task of restoring the engine, coming together as the River Lee Industrial Archaeology Society.[9] The engine house and engine wereGrade II listed in 1974.[11] Markhouse Beam Engine and Museum was formed in 1984.
Over £3 million has been spent on restoring the engine, building and surrounding grounds, a full restoration of the park was completed by April 2010, and the park, museum, and beam engine re-opened for public access. The funding was secured through various sources including theHeritage Lottery Fund,Football Foundation,DCLG andBig Lottery Fund.[3] The museum is open on selected Sundays and Bank Holidays, and the engine is occasionally run for public display.[12]
In 2025 the museum merged with the nearbyWalthamstow Pumphouse Museum to form theHeritage and Communities Trust.[13]
