Brief History of Langford Pumping Station
History

It is with thanks to one of our Web Site Visitors (an ex-Heybridge resident now living in The States) that we have added a brief history of the Pumping Station, including a few pictures.

From the Official Station opening in 1929, three steam pumps faithfully supplied treated water to the Southend area up until the early 1960's. This period includes, of course, the Second World War, when water reservoirs and pumping stations were strategic targets.

The picture on the left shows the Pumping Station (complete with 180 foot chimney) in the middle distance on the right. The reservoirs are clear visible

This picture appears to have been taken several years after construction, as the two pictures below seem to indicate.

The Water Story
When the Langford Pumping Station was built, two large reservoirs were also dug, each having a capacity of 30.000.000 gallons (136.380.000 litres) of water and covering some 10.5 acres (4.25 hectares). These reservoirs were gravity fed from water intakes on the River Chelmer and the River Blackwater. The intake from the River Chelmer was at Rushes Lock and the water gravitated along a 33inch (838.2 mm) diameter cast iron pipeline for 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) to the reservoir. The River Blackwater intake was at the nearby Langford Mill.

The raw water gravitated from the reservoirs to the Pumping Station, and was pumped by the 'low lift' pumps to the Purification Works, about 1 mile (1.6 kilometer) to the west. After treatment it gravitated back again via a 500.000 gallon (2.273.000 liter) covered equalizing reservoir. It was then pumped by the 'high lift' pumps to Oakwood Service Reservoirs for distribution through a 28 inch (711 mm diameter) cast iron pipe. Until 1945, 96% of the Southend Company's water requirement was pumped from Langford. Large gravitational mains supplied Southend to the east and Canvey Island, Benfleet. Pitsea and Laindon to the west. Water required for the high areas of Hockley. Rayleigh. Thundersley, Billericay and Ramsden Heath was supplied by booster stations.

Electrical power and lighting at the treatment works and the Pumping Station was provided by three Belliss & Morcom Lid. Direct coupled steam generators of 80 kilowatts each. Steam Power was provided by two coal fired boilers, which were fed from a Coal Hopper situated adjacent to the Boiler House. Both the boilers and hopper have been removed, but the pictures below show how it used to be. The Boiler House is now the home for the Victorian Workshop.

Closure of the Steam Pumping Station
From the Official Station opening in 1929. the steam pumps faithfully supplied treated water to the Southend area up until the early 1960's. This period includes of course the Second World War when water reservoirs and pumping stations were strategic targets. Langford Steam Pumping Station could not supply sufficient water to meet the ever increasing demand and was therefore shut down in 1963 and a new all electric pumping station took over the supply and continued to pump water along the same pipes. The same pipes are still in use today.

In 1964 the decision was taken to scrap two of the big engine and pump sets, and the boilers. The elegant 150 foot (45.72 metres) chimney was hexagonal shape and a local landmark. However, that too was pulled down with the aid of an eight wheel Albion heavy recovery lorry. The coaling plant was also demolished.

Fortunately, the Top Brass of the Company at the time had the enthusiasm and the foresight to ensure that one engine and pump set was preserved. In subsequent years, the Chief Engineer of the Company, Percy Gordon Spencer ensured the retention of the engine, and also had a dream that the station should become a Museum. Unfortunately, he did not live to see it come to fruition, but we all owe him a debt of gratitude.

The buildings and the engine became Scheduled Ancient Monuments in 1986 so both will be here for many generations to come to delight and educate both young and old.

Memories Pasts
One of the ex-Heybridge residents remembers an event at the Pumping Station during the Second World War. A Germany V1 Flying Bomb, known as a Doodlebug, crashed and exploded on the banks of the raw water reservoir about 100 - 150 yards west of the building. At the time of the explosion, he was working at Hodge's Farm, which was 200 yard beyond the entrance road leading to the old Waterworks office building and its laboratories.