Key Words :- new river

Address :- Rosebery Avenue, London, Greater London
Grid Ref :- TQ 31262 82773
Co-ordinates :- Lat 51.528619 , Long -0.109149
Local Authority :- Islington London Borough Council
Pre 1974 County :- Middlesex
Site Status :- Listed - Grade II
Historic England List No - 1195724,
Site Condition :- Site refurbished to mixed use
Site Dates :- 1768 / 1868 -

Description and History of Site:-
Former Engine House and attached boiler houses and coal store at New River Head.

Information panel:

The tall building above you is the Engine House. It's actually two engine houses in one. The first was designed by engineer John Smeaton in 1768. In the 1840s, architect William Chadwell Mylne designed an extension for bigger and more powerful steam engines. The older building is still inside the newer one.

The steam engines pumped water until the 1950s. When they were removed, new electric pumps were installed in this building. They are still working today. You might be able to hear fans keeping the pumps cool, or water rushing underground.
Now home to the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration.

Further Reading and References:-
https://qbcentre.org.uk/
http://www.glias.org.uk/news/335news.html#E

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Contributor :- Robert Mason - 23 July 2019
Copyright :- cc-by-nc-sa 4.0 © Robert Mason