a history of john taylor & sons and their predecessors€¦ · · 2006-12-06a history of john...

Chelsea to Cairo – ‘Taylor-made’Water Through Eleven Reigns andin Six ContinentsA History of John Taylor & Sonsand their predecessors

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Chelsea to Cairo – ‘Taylor-made’Water Through Eleven Reigns andin Six ContinentsA History of John Taylor & Sonsand their predecessors

GWILYM ROBERTS

Hyder Consulting plc

Hyder Consulting is the successor to the Acer Group Ltd, which was formed

in 1987 by the merger of John Taylor & Sons with Freeman Fox & Partners,

who were joined in 1991 by Sir Bruce White, Wolfe Barry & Partners. These

three eminent and long-established firms of engineering consultants

were responsible for pioneering many engineering procedures which

later became standard practice, and for the design of many of the world’s

greatest civil engineering projects.

The skills and values of these firms have been absorbed into the

present-day group which is one of the UK’s largest multi-discipline

engineering consultancies.

Since 2002, Hyder Consulting has been listed on the London Stock

Exchange and now employs over 3250 people around the world, a

number of whom were with John Taylor & Sons and the other founding

companies. The company continues to be a world leader in water and

public health engineering and advisory services.

Further information on the group is available at:

www.hyderconsulting. com

The author

Gwilym Roberts read Engineering at Cambridge before entering the

Engineering Branch of the Royal Navy. Having joined John Taylor &

Sons in 1947, and becoming a Partner in 1956 and Senior Partner in 1981,

he was actively involved with the growth of the firm into a major inter-

national consultancy, seeing staff numbers grow from about 20 to over

iv

500 by 1987. The firm merged with Freeman Fox & Partners to form the

Acer Group in the same year, Roberts becoming founder chairman. When

he retired in 1992 the Group had worked in nearly 40 countries and total

staff numbers had more than doubled since the merger to over 2300.

Roberts became President of the Institution of Civil Engineers in 1986

and was appointed a CBE in the following year. In January 2004, the

Sunday Times Magazine named him as one of Britain’s four leading

international engineers of the 20th century. His other publications include

Built by Oil, an account of the projects constructed in the Middle East in

the second half of the 20th century, From Kendal’s Coffee House to

One Great George Street, a history of the ICE’s Headquarters buildings,

and The Mattabel Inheritance, a six-volume privately published family

history.

John Taylor & Sons

The Chelsea Water Company, which had been founded in 1722,

appointed Thomas Simpson as its Engineer in 1784. His son James

succeeded him in 1823, and not only established a thriving engineering

consultancy as well as a major engine and pump manufactory, but

followed his father in pioneering numerous important developments,

many of which are still applicable today.

On James’s death in 1869, much of his consultancy practice was taken

over by his Chief Assistant, John Taylor, whose two sons subsequently

joined him as partners. As a leading specialist in Water and Public

Health Engineering, the firm rapidly acquired an international reputation

and, for a century and a quarter, was responsible for many major projects

in both the UK and overseas.

In 1987 the firm, by then with a staff of some 500, merged with Freeman

Fox & Partners to form the Acer Group, and which is now known as Hyder

Consulting plc.

John Taylor & Sons, together with its antecedents and successor

company, has a history of nearly three centuries, thus making it one of

the longest established engineering consultancies.

v

Of the leading engineering consultancies practising in the 20th century,

John Taylor & Sons was not only one of the first to have been established

but also one of the few that operated under the same name for well over a

century.

In part this is a Tale of Two Families, the Simpsons and the Taylors, of

four generations each of whom played leading and influential roles in

the development of water engineering practice.

Other thoughts

The book also has sections dealing with:

. London’s early water supplies;

. the development of the steam engine; and

. the achievements of Worthington–Simpson Ltd, a major 20th century

engine and pump manufacturer.

vi

John Taylor (1817–91) with illustration of Southend Pier behind

Copy made in c. 1975 from contemporary portrait.

Now in Hyder Consulting’s Head Office.

Note by Jessop Price

The original portrait suddenly turned up in the mid-1970s. I

remember that it was John Haseldine who produced it and said it

had been returned to him by a contact in Australia.

The portrait had no frame, had been folded into four and was in a very

bad condition with bits missing. It was agreed that we should get a

copy made and I arranged for this through my Mother’s contacts

among the art world in London.

vii

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my former colleagues in John Taylor & Sons who,

together with their predecessors, have done so much to raise living

standards for countless millions across the globe.

Some quotations

The population’s habit is to grow

In every region where the water’s low.

A. P. Herbert (1890–1971)

Water is Best. Pindar (518–438 BC)

Sweet Thames, run softly, till I end my song.

Edmund Spenser (?1552–99)

But noble Thames, whilst I can hold a pen, I will divulge thy Glory unto

men.

John Taylor (the Water Poet) (1580–1653)

Cleanliness is next to Godliness John Wesley (1703–91)

Therefore when we build let us think that we build for ever. Let it not be

for present delight, nor for present use alone; let it be such work as our

descendants will thank us for, and let us think, as we lay stone on stone,

that a time is to come when men will say . . . ‘See! this our fathers did for us.’

John Ruskin (1819–1900)

Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city!

Zephania, Ch 3, V 1

This is not the age of pamphleteers. It is the age of the engineers.

The spark-gap is mightier than the pen.

Lancelot Hogben (1895–1975)

Nulla Vita Sine Aqua (No Life Without Water).

Motto of the Worshipful Company of Water Conservators 1993

If the 19th century was the era of the engineer, the 21st century will come

to be celebrated as the era of the environmentalist.

Nick Reeves, Executive Director, CIWEM, 2005

ix

Contents

Preface xx

Foreword xxiii

Acknowledgements xxiv

Specialist abbreviations xxx

Units of measurement xxxii

Part 1 Overview 1

Chapter 1 Synopsis and background 3

John Taylor & Sons 3

Continuity 6

Background 6

The Water Cycle 6

The engineering profession 7

An Engineer – or Civil Engineer 8

The Construction Industry 8

Societies and institutions 8

Consulting engineering 9

Development of water supplies 10

Water companies and municipal undertakings 11

Constant supply 12

Reorganisation – again and again 13

Water quality 14

Sewerage and sewage treatment 14

Client base 15

Project management and execution 16

Project legislation and finance 16

International 16

Part 2 Water supplies up to the 18th century 19

Chapter 2 Wells, waterwheels and turncocks 21

Background 21

xi

London’s streams, springs and wells 21

Western streams 24

Conduits 26

Water bearers 29

London Bridge Waterworks 31

The New River 39

Wooden pipes and lead quills 44

Inconstant supplies and turncocks 46

Pumping engines 48

Chapter 3 Chelsea and other early water companies 53

Historical 53

The Chelsea Waterworks Company (1722–1904) 53

Other central and north London companies 66

Chapter 4 Lambeth and other later water companies 74

Lambeth Waterworks Company (1785–1904) 74

Mergers and aquisitions 74

Chronology of the water companies 75

Borough Waterworks (1771–1820) 75

Grand Junction Water Company (1798–1904) 77

Chapter 5 Engines ‘for raising water by fire’ 79

Overview 80

Atmospheric steam engines 81

Mine drainage and water pumps 83

The poem Ænigma 88

Smeaton’s experiments and improvements 89

Watt’s transformations 91

Trevithick’s high-pressure ‘Cornish’ engines 97

Part 3 The 19th century 101

Chapter 6 Thomas Simpson (1755–1823) 103

Profile 103

Millwrights 104

Chelsea Waterworks Company c. 1800 106

Simpson’s appointment as Inspector 110

Simpson’s responsibilities 111

Contemporary issues 111

Poor water quality and more pumps 111

Area of supply 114

xii

The battle for Marylebone 115

The 1821 Parliamentary Select Committee 117

Leakages 118

Cast iron water mains 118

Intermittent supplies and fire-fighting 119

Competition and charges 120

Machine workshops 123

The other ‘Chelsea’ engine 123

Lambeth Waterworks Company 125

Consultancies 127

Family 127

Contemporaries 130

Chapter 7 James Simpson (1799–1869) 133

Profile 133

Engineer to the Chelsea and Lambeth Companies 135

Royal appointments 137

Filters for Chelsea 138

Victoria Station – a metamorphosis of Chelsea Waterworks 141

John Taylor appointed 146

Water ‘mania’ 146

Simpson’s multi-faceted activities 147

Institutions and societies 147

Personal 149

Chapter 8 J. Simpson & Co. – steam engine and pump manufacturers 151

Summary 151

Simpson’s technical advances 153

Other activities 155

The American influence – horizontal and duplex engines 156

Worthington–Simpson Ltd 158

Museums of steam engines and pumps, and water supply 159

Family involvement 161

Chapter 9 James Simpson with John Taylor, water engineers 165

John Taylor joins Simpson 165

An engineering consultancy 165

Upriver intake for Lambeth 166

Hampton and Walton complexes 171

Reservoirs and mains 173

The 1854 cholera outbreak 175

Bristol Water Company 177

xiii

Newcastle and Gateshead water supply 183

Liverpool Waterworks 188

Copenhagen water, sewerage and gas systems 190

Other water projects 191

Sewerage and sewage treatment schemes 193

Southend Pier 194

Hartlepool Docks 197

Constant supply 198

Simpson’s Legacy 199

Chapter 10 John Taylor (1817–91) 200

Profile 200

The north-east 201

I. K. Brunel and Wharncliffe Viaduct 203

Lambeth and Chelsea appointments 205

With Simpson’s son (or sons) 205

John Taylor & Sons 205

Studies and reports 205

Projects 208

Engineer to New River Company 209

Scrap book 209

Politics 209

Family 209

Office, death etc. 213

The ‘other’ John Taylor 213

Part 4 Into the 20th century 215

Chapter 11 The sons take the helm 217

The Partnership 217

Edward Brough Taylor (1856–1941) 217

Gotfred Midgley Taylor (1861–1927) 218

Chapter 12 Santo Crimp (1853–1901) and the advent of main drainage 222

Profile 222

Historical 224

London’s solution 226

Chapter 13 Godfrey Taylor, MC, OBE (1885–1983) 230

Profile 230

xiv

Chapter 14 Staff cameos 235

Training 235

John ( Jack) Francis Haseldine, MC (1886–1944) 235

William Clifford Casse (1902–91) 240

Ted and Jim Docwra 242

Leonard Bushby Escritt (1902–73) 244

George Lloyd Ackers, OBE (1899–1966) 244

John Weller Sandford Fawcett (1901–62) 245

George Gooch (1855–1931) 245

Egbert James Neville Holder (1910–77) 245

Chapter 15 Projects 247

Technical advances 247

UK water projects 247

UK sewerage and sewage treatment projects 250

Wartime projects 250

Other UK projects 251

International projects 251

Chapter 16 Publications 257

Publications 257

Part 5 Post-war expansion 259

Chapter 17 John Calvert leads the way 261

Growth 261

The Partnership 261

Chapter 18 John Calvert, CBE (1907–87) 263

Background 263

Professional 263

Family and personal 265

Chapter 19 The 1940s intake 267

Introduction 267

Some of those that left 274

. . . and some that stayed 276

Family firm atmosphere 277

Chapter 20 Transition in the office 278

Offices 278

xv

Letterheads 279

Double elephants 279

A job for Gentlemen 282

The advance of technology 282

Chapter 21 Financial fluctuations 283

The 1940s and 1950s 283

Pensions 284

Taxation 284

Growth and a crisis 285

Chapter 22 Associated Company, overseas partnerships and jointventures 286

Associated Company and overseas partnerships 286

Joint ventures, subsidiaries etc. 286

Chapter 23 Later Partners 288

Introduction 288

Chapter 24 Associates and managers, overseas Partners, consultants,

senior staff and architects 295

JTS Associates and other senior staff 295

Consultants 300

Managers of UK provincial offices 301

Redeployment overseas 301

Senior staff still with Hyder in 2005 302

Other long-serving senior staff, including overseas managers 302

Administrative, secretarial and other support staff 303

Architects 305

Chapter 25 Anecdotage 306

Chapter 26 Projects overview 318

Infrastructure development 318

Magnitude and scope of worldwide activities 318

Acer John Taylor 319

A half century of innovations 319

Project phases 320

Chapter 27 Great Britain – water projects 322

Colne Valley Water Company 322

xvi

Three Valleys Water Company 323

Hawkridge Dam and Reservoir 325

Miscellaneous 325

Chapter 28 Great Britain – sewerage and sewage treatment projects 329

Trunk sewers 329

Pumping stations 330

Treatment (or purification) works 331

Marine discharges and long sea outfalls 336

Jetties for sludge disposal ships 342

Chapter 29 Great Britain – miscellaneous projects 343

Sea defences 343

Channel Tunnel terminal storm water disposal 343

Network analyses 344

Export of water to the Middle East 344

Sewer renovation 344

Industrial effluents etc. 345

Building services 346

Bring on the dolphins 347

Chapter 30 Ireland and mainland Europe 348

Ulster 348

Ireland 348

Isle of Man 350

Belgium 351

Greece 351

Italy 351

Yugoslavia (now in 2005 Croatia) 353

Turkey 353

Chapter 31 Middle East 357

Political background 357

Effluent reuse 360

Aden and PDR South Yemen (now within Yemen Republic;

historically Arabia Felix) 361

Kuwait 363

Iraq 367

Saudi Arabia 370

United Arab Emirates 373

Iran 376

Bahrain 378

xvii

Oman 380

Qatar 381

Egypt 383

Libya 394

ROPME – Regional Organisation for the Protection of the Marine

Environment (of the Persian/Arabian Gulf) 395

Jordan 395

Syria and Lebanon 396

Chapter 32 Africa and the Indian Ocean 397

Nigeria 397

Kenya 397

Ethiopia 398

The Gambia 400

Mauritius 400

Chapter 33 India and the Far East 405

Thailand 405

India 406

Malaysia 407

South Korea 410

Hong Kong 410

China 411

Indonesia 411

Taiwan 414

Chapter 34 Australasia 415

New Zealand 415

Australia 415

Chapter 35 The Western hemisphere 417

Jamaica 417

Chile 417

Haiti 417

The USA 418

Chapter 36 Miscellanea 419

Queen’s Award for Export Achievement 419

Cricket champions 419

Dinner-dances and parties 420

Newsletters 421

xviii

Books and publications – 1945 and later 421

Logo competition 421

Chapter 37 Institutions, associations, livery companies etc. 422

The Institution of Civil Engineers 422

The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental

Management 422

The Association of Consulting Engineers 426

Livery companies 428

St Stephen’s Club 429

Part 6 The new millennium 431

Chapter 38 Through Acer to Hyder Consulting 433

Acer Group Ltd 433

Acer John Taylor 438

Hyder Consulting plc 444

Bibliography 446

References 446

Further reading 448

Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers 449

ICE Tracts 451

Obituaries 452

Science Museum 451

Websites 452

Other sources 452

Index 453

xix

Preface

Civilisation is a product of Engineering – as are the luxuries and basics of

the life-style we enjoy in 2005, prominent among which are our high

public health standards.

Many engineering structures and artefacts also have considerable

artistic merit and rank alongside more conventional works of art. Kenneth

(later Lord) Clark, in his book Civilisation, not only had an illustration of

the Firth of Forth Railway Bridge on the book’s cover but wrote ‘It may

seem rather odd to consider 19th-century art in terms of tunnels, bridges

and other feats of engineering’.

Mankind’s dependence on technology goes back to the earliest

civilisations millennia ago, when irrigation systems enabled our ancestors

to abandon a nomadic existence and when artisans produced the artefacts

needed for both existence and recreation. While other professions have

facilitated their work, and yet others have capitalised on their successes,

it is the engineers (the heroes of the 19th century, but the unsung

heroes of the 20th century) who, building on the discoveries and

inventions of scientists, have converted the Earth’s natural resources

into the energy and goods on which our modern civilisation entirely

depends.

Engineers have similarly provided our modern clean water supplies:

one of the principal agencies for our present longevity and good health.

Although as far back as 1680 London referred to its ‘sweet and whole-

some’ water, succeeding decades saw quality deteriorate and quantity

become the objective of 18th century water supply companies; and it

was only through the pioneering work of enlightened activists and engi-

neers of early Victorian times that purer supplies became the norm –

and the phrase ‘pure and wholesome’ became the standard legislative

requirement for water supplies in 19th century Britain.

In Victoria’s reign engineers not only enabled Britain to become the

world’s leading industrial power but also created the infrastructure that

enabled its cities to develop and operate. In his Victorian Cities Asa (now

Lord) Briggs wrote ‘The cities of this book are the cities of the railway and

tramway age, of the age of steam and of gas. . . . Perhaps their outstanding

xx

feature was hidden from public view – their hidden network of pipes and

drains and sewers, one of the biggest technical and social achievements of

the age, a sanitary ‘‘system’’ more comprehensive than the transport

system.’ Of the many public services that modern society takes for granted,

this must surely be the most important for the nation’s wellbeing.

The water and public health engineers of 2005, through striving to

achieve the more sophisticated facilities expected by Western society

and the ever higher standards demanded by legislators, have continued

the traditions of their predecessors while, in the developing world, they

have played a major role in improving living conditions and helping gov-

ernments cope with the near-intractable problems caused by phenomenal

population growth. Among such modern engineers have been my former

colleagues in John Taylor & Sons.

Researching the firm’s early history highlighted the pioneering roles

played by John Taylor’s predecessors – in particular by Thomas and

James Simpson. As their achievements can only be properly appreciated

against the backcloth of London’s water supply systems at the end of the

18th century, I have begun with a resume of those systems and of some of

those that preceded them.

Designers of 17th and 18th century schemes for the drainage of mines

and fens, and for the construction and operation of water mills, canals

and ornamental fountains, had acquired the basic knowledge of water

supply and control. Similarly, the Royal Society, founded in 1661 and

embracing the leading scientists of the day, frequently heard papers on

hydrology and hydraulics. Nevertheless, the foundations of our modern

urban water supply systems had to await the technical developments of

the 19th century industrial revolution and the establishment of the Institu-

tion of Civil Engineers in 1818, founded over a century and a half after the

Royal Society.

These developments permitted such innovations as cast iron mains,

steam-driven pumps, upstream abstraction, impounding reservoirs and,

ultimately, constant service and wholesome suppliers. As recounted in

this narrative, John Taylor and his predecessors all played major roles in

making such developments practical realities, while his successors have

engineered the schemes that have enabled countless millions of people

around the world to enjoy the benefits of modern water and sanitary

systems.

In researching the background to this book, I have come across many

interesting facts and, in deciding what to include, I have sometimes

strayed from what is strictly relevant on the grounds that what I have

found to be fascinating will, I hope, also interest many others.

In 1987, John Taylor & Sons, whom I had joined 40 years earlier, merged

with Freeman Fox & Partners to form the Acer Group. Subsequently, other

xxi

firms, including Sir Bruce White, Wolfe Barry & Partners, became part of

the Group. Each of these firms has been renowned for the design of

major engineering projects and for pioneering innovations that, together,

have embraced the whole spectrum of engineering.

As Chairman of Acer until my retirement in 1992, I was very conscious of

the Group’s proud heritage – and hoped that at some stage I might be able

to recount some of these achievements. Originally, this was conceived as a

single publication, provisionally entitled Water Under the Bridges, but the

nature and extent of the project necessarily meant that the history of each

firm had to be tackled separately.

In 1993, the Acer Group was taken over by Welsh Water, later renamed

Hyder plc, and in 1996 the name was changed from Acer to Hyder

Consulting Ltd. A management buyout in 2002 resulted in ownership of

the Consultancy being again vested in its principals – the way in which

the partnerships and companies that merged to form the Acer Group

had always operated until the 1993 takeover. In October 2002, the

company was floated as Hyder Consulting plc, but the majority of the

shares are still held by the senior management.

Now, in 2005, Hyder Consulting plc is led by Sir Alan Thomas, Chair-

man, and Tim Wade, Chief Executive Officer, and I am most grateful to

them for their support and interest in this venture.

xxii

Foreword

In today’s (2005) society, life without the benefit and convenience of

modern water and sanitation systems is inconceivable. The fact that

they exist is in substantial part due to the work of John Taylor, his early

colleagues and the engineering company he subsequently founded.

At the time I graduated in Engineering nearly 40 years ago, John Taylor

& Sons was the place that young water engineers migrated to if they

wanted to work on major projects both in the UK and overseas.

Historians and those with an interest in many of the developments still

in use within the water industry today will find this book a valuable and

interesting reference source. It also chronicles a magical era of expansion

of British consulting engineers into overseas markets which has led to

engineering design and advice becoming one of the UK’s most valuable

invisible exports.

We at Hyder Consulting are grateful to Gwilym for researching and

recording this important part of our own heritage, which will be marked

by our 150th anniversary in 2007.

While Gwilym is too modest to say so, this book is a tribute to his own

very real contribution to our profession and to the pride that we can all

take in it. The book is a huge labour and I congratulate him on its successful

completion.

Tim Wade, Chief Executive Officer, Hyder Consulting plc

xxiii

Acknowledgements

I am most grateful to the many people and organisations who have helped

me in the preparation of this book. Not only have they provided me with

information which I could not otherwise have obtained, but they have

also made my task immeasurably easier by their assistance and their

encouragement and support. Principal among these have been those

mentioned below.

Michael Chrimes, Carol Morgan, Debra Francis and other staff of the

Institution of Civil Engineers Library, Robert Thomas formerly of that

library, Robert Rennison and David Greenfield of the Institution’s Panel

for Historical Engineering Works and contributors to the Civil Engineer-

ing Heritage Exchange.

John Taylor’s great-grandsons, Tony and Charles Taylor and William

Haseldine, who have not only supplied invaluable information but have

also lent me family documents, in particular Scrap Books kept by John

Taylor and Jack Haseldine. Valuable comments on drafts, as well as

significant contributions to the text, have been made by John Calvert’s

widow, Lady Lowry, and by many of my former colleagues, in particular

by Jessop Price and Hamish Somerville but also by Godfrey Ackers, Ian

Cookman, Jim Docwra, Sheila Fuller, Chris Hayward, Nick Paul, Rita

Perkins, Ian Staniforth, Bob Willis and David Yaw, and by many others

mentioned in Chapter 24.

Among the many other former colleagues and friends from the water

industry who have assisted are Ted Flaxman, Roy Harris and Douglas

Milroy. Also particularly helpful have been Peter White, formerly of

Worthington-Simpson Ltd, Angela Gould, a descendant of James

Simpson, Robin Winters and Gaynor Haywood of Thames Water, John

Corker of Kempton Great Engines Trust, Jeremy Smith of the Guildhall

Library, and staff of the London Metropolitan Archives, Westminster

City Archives and the Science and Society Picture Library.

Others who have provided assistance include Mike Claxton of the Insti-

tution of Mechanical Engineers Library, Andy Walker of the Association

for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) and Hugh Woodrow formerly of

the ACE, Phil Hall of Sunderland Library, A. H. Martin of Southend

xxiv

Library, John Porter and Jo Willis of Kew Bridge Steam Museum (KBSM),

Ian Hilder and Brian Walker who undertook specific items of research and

Mandy Taylor of the Science Museum. Some research in Denmark was

undertaken by Hans-Christian Broer.

Without support and input from Hyder Consulting plc and from the

publishers, Thomas Telford Ltd, this book would not have got beyond

the manuscript stage – and I am most grateful to all involved. In particular

I should like to recognise Tim Wade, Chief Executive Officer of Hyder

Consulting plc, for his support and encouragement and for enabling

senior personnel to work with me. Principal among these have been

Hamish Somerville, Group Director – Water and Wastewater, Neil Walls,

Global Marketing Director, Graham Whitehead, Head of Communica-

tions, and Lisa Beake, Librarian.

Thomas Telford Publishing Ltd. have, of course, been the linchpin in

converting my idea into a presentable form and, under my friends

Graham James and Leon Heward-Mills, much hard work has been

undertaken by Stephen Nixey, Minna Tiainen, Keith Westmoreland and

Maria Wilson – and I am most grateful to them all.

Finally, it has only been through the forbearance of my wife, Wendy,

who has excused me from undertaking many of the household chores

now regularly performed by retired husbands, that I have had the time

to undertake the research and writing – and I am most grateful to her.

Sources

ArchivesItems of Memorabilia from John Taylor & Sons, including drawings, were

deposited in the Library of the Institution of Civil Engineers and at the

Science Museum.

Technical papers and Presidential Addresses presented by members of

the firm, together with articles about projects undertaken, can be found in

the publications of various professional bodies, in particular the Institution

of Civil Engineers and the Chartered Institution of Water and Environ-

mental Management.

Personal professional details are contained in Obituaries (see Bibliogra-

phy) and, in some cases, in the applications made by individuals to join a

professional body.

Early papers relating to the Chelsea and Lambeth Water Companies

are in London Metropolitan Archives, while transcripts of evidence to

Parliamentary Committees are at the Public Record Office, Kew.

The addresses of the principal professional and other bodies are:

Institution of Civil Engineers 1–7 Great George Street, Westminster,

London SW1P 3AA; 020 7222 7722; www.ice.org.uk

xxv

Institution of Mechanical Engineers 1 BirdcageWalk, Westminster,

London SW1H 9JJ; 020 7973 1266; www.imeche.org.uk

Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management

15 John Street, London WC1N 2EB; 020 7831 3110;

www.ciwem.com

Science Museum Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London

SW7 2DD; 0870 870 486; www.sciencemuseum.org.uk

London Metropolitan Archives 40 Northampton Road, London

EC1R 0HB; 020 7332 3820; www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/lma

Public Record Office Ruskin Avenue, Kew, Surrey TW9 4DU;

020 8876 3444; www.pro.gov.uk

PublicationsThe various publications that have been consulted are listed in the Biblio-

graphy – and those with particular relevance to aspects of this history are

in bold type.

IllustrationsThe sources of the illustrations are listed in the following table.

Many illustrations have been obtained from John Taylor & Sons’ publi-

cations and the archives of Hyder Consulting plc; while others have been

provided by friends and colleagues with whom the author worked. Many

of the older illustrations are out of copyright, but some have been sourced

from national and similar archives while copies of others have been

obtained from other publications. Some modern illustrations and maps

have been obtained from national bodies or agencies or from technical

journals.

The illustrations listed below were obtained from the bodies or persons

named and are reproduced with their permission – and the willingness

and courtesy of all who have provided illustrations and permitted their

reproduction is gratefully acknowledged.

Source Figure numbers

# Automobile Association Developments Limited 2005

LIC012/05 A02598.

3.1, 7.13, 9.14

# Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Licence number

399221.

ACE – Association for Consultancy and Engineering 37.8

Acer – see Hyder Consulting

Angel, Dr Heather and Bristol Water Company 9.16

Binnie Taylor Egypt – see Hyder Consulting

xxvi


Birmingham City 5.16

Boden, Ms Daphne 18.1

Bristol Water Company – see Angel,

Dr Heather

Burnham-on-Sea Town Council 29.1

Cambridge Water Company 1.5

Casse, the late Clifford 14.6, 15.9

City of Westminster Archives Centre 3.2–4, 6.2, 7.17

CIWEM – Chartered Institution of

Water and Environmental

Management

28.19–21, 37.3–5(a), 37.6, 37.7

Cook, Di 25.2

Corporation of London, London

Metropolitan Archives

3.5, 3.11, 6.4, 7.11, 7.12, 9.3

Courtney, Jeffery 19.4

Cowan, John P. 23.5

Daily Telegraph 19.2

Docwra, Colin C. (Jim) 14.7–9

Edinburgh University 2.7

Emap 19.5, 31.28

Empics (Press Association) 25.4, 25.6, 25.8

Engineer, The/Newcomen Society 2.2, 2.9, 2.14, 2.16, 3.10, 3.12, 3.14, 6.7,

8.8, 8.9

Esler Crawford 7.9

Gambold, Ben and Vera 25.1

Gillham, John C. 10.5, 10.6

Guildhall Library, Corporation of

London

2.4, 2.6, 2.18–21, 3.7, 3.8, 4.3, 6.8,

6.18

Harris, Tony 25.5

Haseldine family 14.1, 14.3–5

Hatton, Mike – see Slaughter, Peter

Historical Publications Ltd 2.3

Hyder Consulting/Acer/JTS/BTE/TBP 1.2, 1.7, 2.30, 2.31, 9.33, 10.1, 11.1,

11.2, 12.1, 12.2, 13.1–4, 15.1,

15.4, 15.7, 19.1, 19.3, 20.2–6,

23.1, 23.2, 24.1, 25.3 27.1–12,

28.1–14, 28.16, 28.18, 28.22–25,

29.2–8, 30.1–14, 31.3, 31.5–8,

31.10–12, 31.14–26, 31.29–45,

32.1–11, 33.1–9, 35.1, 35.2, 36.1–3,

38.1–18

xxvii


ICE/TTL 1.1, 5.8, 5.17, 6.22–24, 7.1, 7.7, 7.8,

7.16, 8.13, 9.15, 9.17, 9.18, 9.26, 9.27,

9.30–32, 10.3, 12.7, 28.15, 28.17,

31.9, 37.1–2

Illustrated London News 7.10, 9.2, 10.7, 11.3

IMechE 9.20

Islington Council 2.17

Ithaca Press, Garnet Publishing Ltd 31.1

Kempton Great Engines Trust 8.12

Kenn, Maurice J. 37.5(b)

Kensington and Chelsea, Royal Borough of 3.6

Kew Bridge Steam Museum 6.3, 6.15, 8.11

London Topographical Society 6.9–11

Milroy, Douglas G. 6.20

Museum of London 2.1, 2.13, 12.3

National Portrait Gallery, London 5.11, 5.15, 7.14, 9.11

Newcomen Society – see Engineer, The

Ordnance Survey 7.13, 9.7, 9.25, 9.34, 9.35, 10.4

Philip’s Maps & Atlases 14.2

Pipeline Industries Guild 2.24

Price, A. Jessop 23.4

Quiller Press 2.22, 2.23, 2.26, 2.29, 3.9, 3.15, 6.14,

7.3, 12.4, 12.5

Rennison, Robert W. 9.19, 9.21–24

Robinson, Jim 23.6

Science Museum – see Science & Society

Picture Library

Science & Society Picture Library 5.18, 15.5, 15.8

Scientific Press 9.9, 9.10

Sedgemoor District Council –

see Burnham-on-Sea Town Council

Slaughter, Peter 12.8

Soane Museum, Sir John 2.25

St Stephen’s Club 37.10(b)

Sussex Industrial Archaeology Society 2.10–12

Taylor–Binnie & Partners – see Hyder

Consulting

Taylor, Canon J. 31.4

Taylor family 9.28

Taylor, John & Sons – see Hyder Consulting

Taylor, Majella 31.27

xxviii


Thames & Hudson Ltd 7.4

Thames Water plc 2.8, 4.1, 4.2, 7.2, 9.1, 9.8, 12.9

Three Valleys Water Company 15.2, 15.3

Trinity College, Cambridge 1.3, 1.4

Water Conservators, Worshipful Company of 23.3, 37.9

Water UK 1.6

White, P. N. 2.28, 8.5, 8.10

Worthington–Simpson Ltd 7.5, 8.1, 8.3

Your Old Books & Maps Co. 10.2, 15.6

In addition to the above, the following illustrations were obtained as noted

below:


Old, out-of-copyright sources 2.5, 2.15, 2.27, 2.32–34, 3.13, 3.15,

5.1–6, 5.9, 5.10, 5.12–14, 6.1, 6.5, 6.6,

6.16, 6.17, 8.4, 8.6–8

Author 7.15, 8.2, 9.4–6, 9.12, 9.13, 12.6, 18.2,

20.1, 25.7, 31.2, 37.10(a)

xxix

Specialist abbreviations referred to inthe text

ACE Association for Consultancy and Engineering, formerly

Association of Consulting Engineers

ADB Asian Development Bank

AMBRIC American–British Consultants

ARE Assistant Resident Engineer

BHP Brake Horse Power

BTE Binnie Taylor (Egypt)

BWW British Wastewater Ltd

CIWEM Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental

Management

CWW Chelsea Waterworks Company

DfID Department for International Development

DTI Department for Trade and Industry

FCIBSE Fellow, Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers

FCIWEM Fellow, CIWEM

FCO Foreign and Commonwealth Office

FEng Fellow, Academy of Engineering (now FREng)

FEWI Fellow, Expert Witness Institute

FICE Fellow, ICE

FREng Fellow, Royal Academy of Engineering

FSA Fellow, Society of Antiquaries

FSADC Football Stadia Advisory Design Council

GL Guildhall Library, City of London

ICE Institution of Civil Engineers

IMechE Institution of Mechanical Engineers

IPHE Institution of Public Health Engineers*

ISP Institute of Sewage Purification*

IWE Institution of Water Engineers (later IWES)*

IWEM Institution of Water and Environmental Management*

IWES Institution of Water Engineers and Scientists*

JTS, JT&S John Taylor & Sons, Acer John Taylor

xxx

KBSM Kew Bridge Steam Museum

KGET Kempton Great Engines Trust

LMA London Metropolitan Archives

Mgad Million Gallons per Day

Ml Mega Litre (1000 cubic metres)

Mld Mega Litres per Day

MICE Member, ICE

NCE New Civil Engineer (ICE magazine)

OCTU Officer Cadet Training Unit

Ofwat Office of the Economic Regulator for the Water and Sewage

Industry in England and Wales

ODA Overseas Development Agency (now DfID)

PD Project Director

PDR Peoples’ Democratic Republic

PHEW Panel for Historical Engineering Works

PWD Public Works Department

RAEng Royal Academy of Engineering

RCC Resource Consultants Cambridge

RE Royal Engineers

RNVR Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve

RWA Regional Water Authority

SRE Senior Resident Engineer

SSSSS Select Society of Sanitary Sludge Shovellers

S–TW Severn–Trent Water

STW Sewage Treatment Works

TBP Taylor Binnie & Partners

TW Treatment Works

UAE United Arab Emirates

UNDP United Nations Development Programme

USAID United States Agency for International Development

WA Water Authority

WCA Westminster City Archives

WHO World Health Organisation

WW1 World War One

WW2 World War Two

Note: * Now CIWEM

xxxi

Units of measurement

Imperial units have been used for those earlier projects that were built to

those units, but with the metric equivalents following in square brackets.

Metric units only have been used for later projects.

xxxii

CHAPTER 1

Synopsis and background

John Taylor & Sons

Although John Taylor only established his own consultancy in 1869, when

he jointly took over the practice of his former principal, James Simpson (see

Fig. 1.1), following his death, and the name John Taylor & Sons only came

into being in 1884 when Taylor’s two sons joined him as partners, the firm’s

origins can be traced back over a century and a half earlier to 1722, in the

reign of George I, when the Chelsea Waterworks Company (CWW) was

established and, in particular, to 1778 when the company engaged

Thomas Simpson as one of its Millwrights.

Six years later Simpson became the Company’s Inspector (or Engineer)

and, in 1785, the Lambeth Water Works Company also appointed him as

3

Fig. 1.1 James Simpson (1799–1869)

their Engineer. On his death in 1823, he was succeeded to both positions

by his fifth son, James Simpson.

Between them father and son were responsible for a number of

major developments that transformed Water Engineering practice. To

appreciate the background against which these took place, and the

highly competitive environment in which their companies operated, this

history also contains descriptions of earlier water supply schemes and

devices – especially for London.

In addition to establishing a thriving consultancy, James Simpson also

developed a leading manufactory for steam engines and pumps – and,

in his day, was regarded as ‘the High Priest of Waterworks Engineering’

(Dickinson, 1954, p. 121). He was also the seventh President of the Institu-

tion of Civil Engineers.

In 1836, Simpson appointed John Taylor (see Fig. 1.2) to his staff and,

within a short period, Taylor had been promoted and become his Chief

Assistant. Over the next 33 years they together engineered or advised

on water schemes for the Chelsea and Lambeth Companies in London,

for Bristol, Carlisle, Exeter, Folkestone, Gravesend, Liverpool, Newcastle

and York elsewhere in England, for Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow in

Scotland, for Cardiff and Newport in Wales, and for Copenhagen in

Denmark. They also designed some maritime and other non-water

supply projects.

Fig. 1.2 John Taylor (1817–91)

CHELSEA TO CAIRO

4

On Simpson’s death in 1869, Taylor went into partnership with Simp-

son’s son, also named James, but the partnership expired three years

later and was not renewed. Taylor thereupon established his own sole

practice, taking over much of the civil engineering side of Simpson’s

practice, the mechanical engineering side being continued by the

younger James Simpson and two of his brothers – and which, following

a merger with an American pump company, became the renowned 20th

century engine and pump manufacturers Worthington–Simpson Ltd.

In 1882, Taylor was joined in partnership by his elder son, Brough

Taylor, and two years later by his younger son, Midgley Taylor. Thus

John Taylor & Sons was born. In 1893, appreciating the need to provide

a service in the newly developing field of sewerage, Santo Crimp, an

expert in that discipline, was invited to join the partnership.

This period saw the start of the firm’s international practice and, by the

beginning of the First World War, the firm had worked in five continents –

having advised clients in Aden, China, Egypt, India, Italy, Newfoundland,

New Zealand, Russia and South Africa.

The first half of the 20th century saw the firm consolidate its reputation

and gradually expand its workload – and the appointment of John Taylor’s

grandson, Godfrey Taylor as a partner in 1913 and of John Calvert in

1944. Post-war they were joined by two of John Taylor’s great-grandsons,

Oliver Taylor (1947) and John Haseldine (1956), and by Gwilym Roberts

(also 1956).

The worldwide redevelopment programmes that followed the end of

the Second World War caused a major expansion of work both in the

UK and overseas, with the firm working in most parts of the UK and in

virtually every Middle Eastern country, as well as in many other countries

around the world.

To undertake this increased workload, more partners were appointed and

more staff engaged. In 1967, Peter Banks and Chris Hayward became part-

ners, and they were followed byNickPauland JessopPrice in 1974, by John

Cowan in 1979 and, following his return from the Middle East, by Jim

Robinson in 1981. A number of Associate Partners were also appointed,

as well as Partners for the Overseas Partnerships that were created in the

late 1970s. Over the 40 year period following the Second World War, staff

numbers increased some 25-fold, from about 20 to over 500 by the late 1980s.

Of the leading engineering consultancies practising in the second half

of the 20th century, the firm was not only one of the first to have been

established but also the only one that operated under the same name

for well over a century.

In 1987, the firm amalgamated with Freeman Fox & Partners to form the

Acer Group Ltd, later being joined by Sir Bruce White, Wolfe Barry &

Partners and other specialist firms. Six years later the Group was acquired

CHAPTER 1 SYNOPSIS AND BACKGROUND

5

Index

Note: Page numbers in italics refer to diagrams and illustrations.

Aberdeen water supply, James Simpson

191

Abu Dhabi 360

effluent reuse 373�374, 374sewage treatment schemes 241,

375�376, 375�376stranded off 306

Acer Group Ltd

consultancies 437

divisions 438

formation 5, 287, 435�437, 437projects 438�439, 438�439, 440, 441�443

Acer-ICF Ltd, formation 287

Ackers, George 244�245Ackers, Godfrey 275, 307, 316

Aden see Yemen

AMBRIC, Greater Cairo Wastewater

Project 273, 286, 383�384Amcotts, Peter 275

Amersham Gas Works 250, 251

Amman, water supply project 395

Archimedian screws 48�49, 49�50Armstrong, Lord William 183, 184

Association for Consultancy and

Engineering (ACE) 10, 419�420, 426,427, 428

Athens, sewage treatment project 351, 443

atmospheric engines

Borough WWC 75, 77

Chelsea WWC 61�63, 61�62, 110Newcomen 62, 71, 84�87, 86�88operation 85, 86

Papin 81�83, 82Savery 71, 84

Smeaton 90�91, 90�91von Guericke 81, 82

Auckland, sewage treatment project 219,

252, 265, 415

Australia, sewage treatment projects

415�416

Baghdad

ancient drainage system 224

sewage treatment project 269, 273, 307,

310

East Bank sewer 368, 368

main drainage system 367

palm tree incident 306

Rustamiyah works 368, 369

West Bank sewer 369, 370

Bahrain 360

water supply project 312, 378�380,378�379

Bandung, sewage treatment project 411

Banks, Peter 288�289, 288, 422, 428,434

partnership 5, 288

projects 356, 370, 411, 412

Bass Charrington, effluent treatment 345

Bazalgette, Sir Joseph 227

sewage disposal 193, 226�227, 229Abbey Mills Pumping Station 229

Victoria Embankment 227, 228

Western Pumping Station 145�146,145, 228

Beasley, Michael 275

Belfast, sewage treatment project 348

Berridge, Hugh 275

Bickerstaffe Distribution Pumping Station

327

Binnie & Partners (later Black & Veatch)

218, 273, 286

Binnie, Sir Richard 218, 223

Black & Veatch (formerly Binnie &

Partners) 218

Blackbirds Farm Works 332, 335

455

Blackpool and Fylde Coast, long sea outfall

337, 341

Bombay see Mumbai

Borough Waterworks 75, 77

Bosker, Chris 296, 383, 387

Boulton & Watt engines 95

Borough WWC 77�78Chelsea WWC

1778 97, 106�109, 107�1081803 109�110, 109

Grand Junction WWC 77�78, 78, 123,124, 125

preserved, Kew Museum 78, 123, 124

principles 93

Soho Works 94, 95

Boulton, Matthew 94, 95�96, 96see also Boulton & Watt engines

bride price 310, 311

Briggs, Ronald 300

Bristol Water Company

extensions 247

Mendip Hills

aquaduct 179

extensions 182, 182

scheme 178, 178, 180�182, 180James Simpson 177�178

Brittania, H.M. Yacht, rescue from Yemen

314�315, 315�316, 362Broken Wharf Water Company 66�68, 67,

68

Brunel, Isambard Kingdom

Warncliffe Viaduct 200�201, 203�204,204

Wearmouth dock 201, 202�203, 203Bulmer, Sir Bevis 66, 67�68Bunn, Major Gilbert 276

Burnham-on-Sea, sea wall 343, 343

Cairo, Greater � Wastewater Project 254,

273, 309

AMBRIC 273, 286, 383�384early schemes 384

East Bank 312, 386�387, 386�387opening 386

pumping stations 389�390treatment works 391�392trunk sewers 388�389tunnel borers 388

Taylor Binnie & Partners 383, 384�385West Bank 385, 385

Calcutta, sewage treatment project

406�407Calvert, John 263, 307, 322

biography 263�266, 422, 426honours 264

marine discharges 336

Medal 264, 264

partnership 5, 231, 261, 263

projects

Australasia 265, 415

Middle East 265, 361, 367

Cambridge, medieval water supply 11, 12

Canterbury, medieval water supply 10�11,10, 11

Carlisle water supply, James Simpson 192

Casse, William 240�242, 241Shanghai 254, 255�256, 256

Chadwick, Edwin 198�199Channel Tunnel Terminal, storm water

disposal 343�344, 344Charlton, John 301

Chartered Institution of Water and

Environmental Management 9, 422,

424, 424

Chelsea Water Works Company

see also Simpson, James; Simpson,

Thomas

abstraction, Surbiton 144, 163

atmospheric engines 61�63, 61, 62, 110Boulton & Watt engines

1778 97, 106�109, 107�1081803 109�110, 109

canal 57�59, 57, 59�60, 104, 113, 114,141, 142�143, 145

competition for 120�121, 122establishment of 56�57machine workshops 123

millwrights 64�66proposals for 53, 55, 56

reservoirs 63, 114, 135, 136, 137

reservoirs and mains supplies 174, 174

river abstraction 113, 113, 135

Thames Ditton 169�171, 169�171slow sand filter beds 139�140, 139tidemill 59, 61, 106

Victoria Station site 141, 142�143, 144water supplies 63

areas 114�115, 115pollution 112, 166�167, 167

watermain laying 135, 136

CHELSEA TO CAIRO

456

China see Hangzhou Bay; Hong Kong;

Shanghai

cholera

identified as waterborne 175�177,176�177

London outbreaks 175�176, 206civil engineering

innovations in 319�320project phases 320�321

civil engineers 8

as consultants 9�10, 16, 127, 165�166office locations 165�166

Colne Valley Water Company 247,

248�249, 270, 322�323, 322�323conduits

construction 28

London water supplies 26�29, 26, 27Coney, Derek 296, 301, 307

consultancies

civil engineers 9�10, 16, 127, 165�166project management 16

water engineers 127, 146

Copenhagen City Council, James

Simpson/John Taylor 190, 191

Coultershaw beam pump 35�36, 35�36Cowan, John 292�293, 292partnership 5, 262, 293

projects 377, 380, 383

Crimp and Bruges Tables 224

Crimp, William Santo 222�224, 222, 226India 223�224partnership 5, 223�224, 223publications 257�258

Cubitt, Thomas 143�144, 144Cumbrian Coast, long sea outfall 341, 342

Dagenham Sewage Treatment Works,

industrial effluent 15, 331�332,333�334, 346

desalination plants 364, 366�367, 366design process, John Taylor & Sons 279,

281

Devereux, Frank 275

Docwra, Colin 242, 244

Docwra, ‘Jim’ 242�244, 243Docwra, ‘Ted’ 242�244, 243Dodd, Ralph 116, 125, 127

Douglas Bay, hydrographic survey

350�351, 350�351Drake, John 297, 307, 310, 311, 386

Dublin, sewage treatment project 349, 349

Dunmore Point, slow sand filter beds 141

Egypt 358

see also Cairo; Nile Delta

national and regional plan for water 387,

393

engineers

see also civil engineers

C18–19 chronology 102

historical status 64

history of term 7�8Escritt, Leonard 244

Ethiopia, water supply project 398�399,399�400

Fawcett, John 245

Fiat, treatment plant 353

fibre-reinforced pipes 373�374, 375filtration see slow sand filter beds

financial management

overseas projects 285

partnerships 284�285pensions 284

post-war 283�284taxation 284�285

fire-fighting, water for 47�48, 48, 119�120,188

Flint, Gareth 297, 387

Ford Motor Company, water tower 328

Freeman Fox & Partners

merger with John Taylor & Sons 287,

433�435projects 433�434, 433�436

Gambia, The, sewage outfall 400

Gambold, Ben and Vera, MBEs 308, 308

Genoa, water supply project 217�218, 251Glasgow water supply, James Simpson 192

Gooch, George 245

Grand JunctionWater Company 77�78, 78,116

Boulton & Watt engine 123, 124, 125

competition, Chelsea WWC 120�121Hampton intake 171�172, 172

gravitational water supplies 208

Guericke, Otto von 81, 82

Hadley, John, Marchants’ Waterworks

70�71, 70

INDEX

457

Haiti, rural water supply project 417�418Hamburg sewage disposal, James Simpson

194

Hampstead Water Company 73

Hangzhou Bay, environmental assessment

411

Hargreaves, Bob 297, 395, 415

Harris, Tony 313�314, 314, 315, 361, 398Hartlepool docks, James Simpson 197�198,

197

Haseldine, John F. (Jack) 221, 235�236,235, 426

partnership 5, 231, 262

projects 236

publications 258

St Petersburg 252, 253

flight from 236�240, 237, 238�240Haseldine, John M. 235, 270, 322

biography 269�270, 271�272projects 270�271, 395, 415

Hawkridge Dam 325, 325

Hawksley, Thomas 185, 188�189, 198�199Hayward, Chris 289�290, 289, 377, 395partnership 5, 289

Heinz Company, cooling installation 328

Henman-Barrow, John 297, 301

projects 373, 387, 394

Herne Bay Waterworks Company 244, 245

Hogsmill Valley Works 333

Holder, Egbert 245�246Hong Kong

sewage treatment projects 410

water supply projects 410

horse-power, concept and definition 97

Hurley, Roger 298, 301, 383

Hyder Consulting plc xxii, 6, 443�444, 443long-serving senior staff 302�303management buyout 6, 444

hydrographic surveys

CCTV 350�351, 350�351marine diffuser 352

IBM Technical Park 346

imperial measurements, confusion over

306

India see Calcutta; Madras; Mumbai

Indonesia

see also Bandung; Jakarta

Lower Citanduy project 412, 412�414National Sewage Plan 411

Institution of Civil Engineers xxi, 147�148,422, 423

headquarters 147, 166, 423

history 8�9Institution of Public Health Engineers

424�425, 424Institution of Water Engineers and

Scientists 425, 425

Institution of Water Pollution Control

425�426, 426Iran 359, 377�378see also Tehran

Iraq 358

see also Baghdad

Irwin, Mike 298, 382

Istanbul 354

sewage treatment project 353�356,355�356

Jakarta, sewage treatment project 412

James Simpson & Co.

see also Worthington�Simpson Ltd

advertisement 158

beam engines 154�155consultancies 165

factories 151�152, 152formation 151

shipyard 155

Arthur Simpson 164

John Taylor appointed to 165, 201

Jessop, William 131, 131

jetties, sludge disposal ships 342, 342

John Calvert Medal 264, 264

John Taylor & Sons v

see also companies/countries/cities for

individual projects

architects 305

building services 346�347, 346�347Channel Tunnel 343�344, 344chronologies 2, 102

consultants 300�301design process 279, 281

financial management 283�285foundation 5

jetties 342, 342

joint ventures 286�287letterheads 279, 280

logo 421, 421

merger, Freeman Fox & Partners 287,

433�435

CHELSEA TO CAIRO

458

mergers xxi�xxiioffice management 282

offices 278�279, 278local 279, 301

partnerships

associate 5, 262

Peter Banks 5, 288

John Calvert 5, 231, 261, 263

John Cowan 5, 262, 293

William Santo Crimp 5, 223�224, 223John F. Haseldine 5, 231, 262

John M. Haseldine 235

Chris Hayward 5, 289

Nick Paul 5, 262, 290

Jessop Price 5, 262, 291

Gwilym Roberts iv�v, 5, 231, 262, 273Jim Robinson 5, 262, 294

E. Brough Taylor 5, 205

G. Midgley Taylor 5, 205

Godfrey Taylor 5, 230, 231, 261

Oliver Taylor 5, 231, 262, 268

PSC Consultants purchased 418, 418

public health engineering 261

publications 257�258, 421Queen’s Award for Export Achievement

419, 419

sea defences 343, 343

senior staff 295�300, 296sewage projects see sewage treatment

staff numbers 285

support staff 303�305wartime 250, 279

water projects, UK 247

John Taylor & Sons (Consulting Engineers)

Ltd, formation 262

Karachi, water supply project 253

Kempton Great Engine Trust, Prescott

engines 159�161, 161�162Kenya, sewage and water supply projects

397�398, 398Kew Bridge Steam Museum 78, 105

Boulton & Watt engines 78, 123, 124

Waddon engine and pump 159, 160

King’s Lynn, Stoke Ferry Treatment Plant

326

Kirkuk to Tripoli pipeline 396

Kuwait 360

desalination plants 364, 366�367, 366effluent utilisation project 364, 365

water supply project 265, 273, 363�364,364

Lambeth Waterworks Company

boundaries 125, 125�126, 127polluted supplies 166�169, 167reservoirs and mains supplies 173�174,

173

sewage farm, objections to 208

James Simpson 74, 166

Thomas Simpson 125

John Taylor 208

Thames Ditton intake 168�169, 169�170LaTrobe Bateman, J. F. 186�188, 192, 207leakages, wooden water pipes 45, 46, 118

Lees, Tony 276

letterheads, John Taylor & Sons 279, 280

Libya 359

sewage treatment projects 394�395Liddell, Joseph, Chelsea WWC 64�65Little, Michael 276

Liverpool, sewer renovation 344, 345

Liverpool City Council

fire-fighting water supply 188

James Simpson 188�190London

Dolphin Square 347, 347

livery companies 428�429, 429Metropolitan Water Board 74�75, 218MetropolitanWater Supply Act 1852 169,

198�199, 207sewage

Bazalgette’s plans 145�146, 145,226�227, 228�229, 229

flows 193

renewals 244

Royal Commission 1857 206

Victoria Station 141, 142�143, 144water supplies

see also London Bridge; water works

companies by name

battle for 115�117company amalgamations 74�75, 75, 76conduits 26�29, 26, 27constant 198�199early companies 54

lack of continuity 115, 119

medieval 23�24, 26�27Parliamentary Select Committee 1821

117�118

INDEX

459

London

water supplies (Continued)

polluted 166�169, 167, 224�226,225

proposed 207

Roman 21�22, 22Saxon 22�23, 23Thames intakes 77

water-bearers 29�31, 30western streams 24�25, 24

London Bridge

waterwheel pumps

Morris 31�34, 32, 34Smeaton 38, 38, 75

Sorocold 36�38, 37�38London Bridge Water Works 75

McGrath, Ron 276, 363

McLeish, Bill 301

Madras, sewage treatment project 406

Malaysia

National Rural Water Supplies Project

407�408, 408�409sewage treatment project 407

water supply project 407

Maple Lodge Works 332

Marchants’ Waterworks 70�71, 70marine pollution, Persian/Arabian Gulf

study 395

Mauritius 400�401, 401water supply project 401, 402�404

Metropolitan Water Board 74�75, 218Metropolitan Water Supply Act 1852

169

constant supply 198�199, 207Millbank (Horse Ferry) Waterworks 72

millwrights 104, 106

mine drainage

buckets and windlass 49, 50

reciprocating pumps 50, 51, 52

‘The Miners’ Friend’ 83�84, 84Montego Bay, industrial effluent treatment

works 417, 417

Moretta, treatment plant 353

Morris, Peter, London Bridge pumps

31�34, 31, 34Mumbai (Bombay)

sewage treatment project 223�224, 251,252


museums

Kempton Engine Trust, Prescott engines

159�161, 161�162Kew Bridge

Boulton & Watt engines 78, 123, 124

Waddon engine and pump 159, 160

Myddleton, Sir Hugh 39, 39, 41

Nestle, treatment plant 352

Neve, John 276

New River Company 210

competition, Chelsea WWC 120�121,122

construction 39

current uses 43�44opening 40�41, 40receipt for water 43

River Head waterworks 42, 43

Sluice House Tavern 43

Smeaton atmospheric engines 90, 90

John Taylor 209

Newcastle Subscription Water Company

demands on 183

Ryal tunnel 185, 186

Whittle Burn abstraction 184�186,185�187

Newcomen, Thomas 84�85atmospheric engines 62, 71, 85�87,

86�88Newfoundland, water supply project 217,

251

Newman, Charles, V.C. 316, 317

Newport water supply, James Simpson 192

Nicholson, Robert 183, 183

Nigeria, sewage and water supply projects

397, 397

Nile Delta, water supply scheme 393�394,393�394

North Wirral, long sea outfall 336, 337

offices, John Taylor & Sons 278�279, 278OFWAT 14

Oliver, Robert 64

Oman 360

desalination project 381

water supply project 307, 309, 380�381,380�381

overseas postings 301

travel times 316�317wives’ clubs 301, 373

CHELSEA TO CAIRO

460

Owens, Bob 298�299, 407, 412

Parliamentary Select Committee 1821,

Metropolitan water supply 117�118Paul, P. Nick 290�291, 290, 428partnership 5, 262, 290

projects 377, 386, 410

pensions 284

Penzance and St Ives, long sea outfall 337,

339�340pipes see sewers; water pipes

Port Elizabeth, sewage treatment project

252, 253

Price, A. Jessop 291�292, 291partnership 5, 262, 291

projects

Africa 394

Europe 353

Far East 412

India 406

Indian Ocean 400�401Middle East 361, 380, 383, 395

PSC Consultants Inc, John Taylor & Sons

purchases 418, 418

public health engineering, growth of 261

pumping stations, sewage 330�331,330�331

pumps

Archimedian screws 48�49, 49�50chain 22, 22, 66�67, 67chronology 79

horse-driven 69

reciprocating 50, 51, 52

steam 156�157, 156waterwheel 31�38, 31, 34�38

Qatar 360

effluent reuse project 381�383, 383Queen’s Award for Export Achievement

419, 419

Ralph, Gordon 299, 377

Red Rum 313, 313

Regional Water Authorities 13�14, 13, 285Rennie, John 130, 130, 197

Resource Consultants Cambridge (RRC)

287

Richards, Derek 299, 301, 380

Rimrose Brook project 232, 244, 272�273Roberts, D. Gwilym M. 272, 274, 384

biography iv�v, 272�273, 274, 422, 429,434

honours 273�274Kirkuk�Tripoli pipeline 396


partnership 5, 231, 262, 273

projects

Africa 273, 309, 386

Middle East 273, 363, 370, 373

Robinson, Jim 293, 294

partnership 5, 262, 294

Roman chain pumps 22, 22

royal appointments, James Simpson 137,

137, 155�156, 155Royal Society xxi

St George’s Church, Hanover Square 105,

150

St Petersburg

Jack Haseldine’s flight from 236�240,237, 238�240

water supply and drainage projects 252

St Stephen’s Club 429�430, 430Salcombe, lunar controlled outfall 336

Saudi Arabia 359�360, 371desalination projects 372

sewage treatment projects 370�372,371�372

Savery, Thomas 83, 86

‘The Miners’ Friend’ 83�84, 84York Buildings WWC 71, 84

Select Society of Sanitary Sludge Sovellers

(SSSSS) 264, 264, 429

sewage

see also London, sewage

drainage

mains 224�226Roman 224, 225

jetties, sludge disposal ships 342, 342

sewage treatment (purification) 6�7,360�361

see also works by name

air blower house 335

history of 14�15hot countries 370

industrial effluents 345�346, 345�346, 351long sea outfalls 336�337, 337�342, 341plants 7, 331�334sludge drying beds 336

UK projects 250

INDEX

461

sewers

concrete pipes 329

hot countries 370

fibre-reinforced pipes 373�374, 375pumping stations 330�331, 330�331renovation 344, 345

trunk 329, 330

Shanganagh, long sea outfall 349, 350

Shanghai, water supply project 254,

255�256, 256Simpson, Arthur Telford 163�164, 205Simpson, Charles Liddell 164

Simpson family tree 128

Simpson, James 3, 133

see also James Simpson & Co

achievements 133�134, 147water filtration 138�140, 139�140

appointments

Aberdeen water supply 191

Bristol WWC 177�178, 178, 180�182,180

Carlisle water supply 192

Chelsea WWC 65�66, 103, 127, 135Copenhagen City Council 190

Glasgow water supply 192

Hamburg sewage disposal 194

Hartlepool docks 197�198, 197Lambeth WWC 135, 166

Liverpool City Council 189�190London sewage disposal 193

Newcastle WWC 183

Newport water supply 192

Southampton sewage disposal

193�194Southend Pier 195, 196

Stockport District WWC 192

York WWC 192�193biography 133�135, 147�150, 422compound steam engine 80

engine manufactory 151�152, 152�153,155

estate 150

institutions and societies 147�149Lambeth WWC 74

royal appointments 137, 137, 155�156,155

John Taylor appointed 146, 201

Simpson, James Liddell, partnership 163,

205

Simpson, Joseph 137, 161�162

Simpson, Thomas

see also Chelsea WWC; Lambeth WWC

appointments

Chelsea WWC 65, 103, 110�111Lambeth WWC 74, 125

biography 103, 104, 127

cast iron pipes 117, 118

joints 46, 118�119, 198consultancies 127

Lambeth WWC 74, 125

memorial 127, 129

will 129

Simpson, William 155, 162�163Singapore, sewage treatment project 252

slow sand filter beds 140�141, 172, 172Chelsea WWC 139�140, 139

Smeaton, John 89, 89

Borough WWC pumps 38, 38, 75, 91

New River WWC engines 90, 90

Smeatonian Society of Civil Engineers 8,

89, 148�149Snow, Dr John 175, 175

proves cholera waterborne 175�177Society of Civil Engineers (Smeatonian) 8,

89, 148�149Somerset House Waterworks 68, 69

Somerville, Hamish 299

projects

Africa 386

Far East 410, 412

Middle East 373, 382

Sorocold, George

London Bridge pumps 37�38, 37�38Marchant’s Waterworks 70�71, 70

South Korea, water losses project 410

Southampton sewage disposal, James

Simpson 193�194Southend Piers vii, 194�196, 194�196Southwark & Vauxhall Water Works

Company 171, 172, 226

Statutory Water Companies 13

steam engines

see also atmospheric engines; Boulton

and Watt engines; pumps, steam

beam engines introduced 85

beam rotative 153, 154

chronology 79

coal consumption 81

compound 153, 154, 163

Cornish high-pressure 98, 99

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462

development, Aenigma (poem) 88

double-acting 153

horizontal 157, 157

Stockport District water supply, James

Simpson 192

Sutton, Sally (nee Letts) 301

Swayne, Timothy 300, 387

Taipei, common utility trench 414

Tate Gallery 347

taxation 284�285Taylor, E. Brough 218

biography 217�218Genoa 217�218, 251Karachi 253

Newfoundland 217, 251

partnership 5, 205

publications 257


Taylor family tree 211

Taylor, G. Midgley

Aden 219, 251, 252

Auckland 219, 252

biography 218�220, 219�220, 426Mumbai (Bombay) 251, 252

partnership 5, 205

Port Elizabeth 252, 253

publications 257


Singapore 252

Taylor, Godfrey 221, 230, 232�234, 232Baghdad 307, 367

biography 422, 426

Cairo 254

consultancies 231


partnership 5, 230, 231, 261

projects 231

publications 258


Taylor, Jerry 233

Taylor, John (1777�1863) 213�214Taylor, John (1817�1891) vii, 4, 200see also James Simpson & Co; John

Taylor & Sons

appointments

Brunel 200�201, 203�204, 204Copenhagen City Council 190, 191

Lambeth WWC 208

New River WWC 209

Simpson’s Manufactory 4, 146, 165,

201

Southend Pier vii, 195, 196

biography 200�201, 213consultancies 3, 208�209, 322London drainage enquiry 206

Mendip Hills aquaduct 179

Thames flow rate 206

Taylor, John Brough 209, 212

Taylor, Oliver 267�268biography 267�268partnership 5, 231, 262, 268

projects 268�269Africa 397

Middle East 269, 361, 367

Taylor Binnie & Partners, Greater Cairo

Wastewater Project 383, 384�385technology, man’s dependence on xx�xxiTehran, sewage treatment projects

377�378Teign Estuary, long sea outfall 341, 341

Telford, Thomas 131�132, 132Thailand

sewage treatment project 405, 405


Thames, River

see also London, water supply

C19 water intakes 77, 113�114, 113flow rate 206

‘the Great Stink’ 226

western tributaries 24�25, 24Thatcher, Denis 312, 312, 356

Thatcher, Margaret 312, 356, 356

Three Valleys Water Company, Iver

Treatment Works 323, 323�324, 325treatment plant 352

Trevithick, Richard 97�98, 98high-pressure engines 98

steam transport 98�99, 99

United Arab Emirates (UAE) 360

see also Abu Dhabi

Vaughan, Clifford 277

Vearncombe, Alan 300, 301, 311, 395

Victoria Embankment 227, 228

Victoria Station, London 141, 142�143, 144

Warncliffe Viaduct, Brunel 200�201,203�204, 204

INDEX

463

wastewater treatment see sewage

treatment

water cycle 6�7water engineers, consultancies 127, 146

water pipes

cast iron 117, 118

joints 46, 118�119, 198problems of laying 119

turncocks 46�47, 47�48laying 136

wooden 44�45, 44, 45leakages 45, 46, 118

water purification, slow sand filtration

138�140, 139�140water supplies

see also London, water supplies

C19 growth in demand 146

constant 12�13, 198�199fire-fighting 47�48, 48, 119�120, 188gravitational 208

medieval 10�11, 10, 11, 12polluted 166�169, 167, 224�226, 225private companies 12

water-bearers 29�31, 30waterwheels

pumps 31�38, 31, 34�38, 70�71, 70preserved 105

tidemills 59, 61

Watt, James 91�92, 92see also Boulton & Watt engines

inventions 92�93, 94, 94meets Boulton 94

Wearmouth dock, Brunel 201, 202�203,203

West Middlesex Water Works Company,

Hampton intake 171, 172

Weymouth and Portland, long sea outfall

337, 338�339Willis, Bob 300, 301, 395, 412

Woking & District Water Company 326

Wolverhampton, concrete service reservoir

327

Worcester Treatment works 334

Worshipful Company of Water

Conservators 428�429, 429Worthington, Henry, steam pumps

156�157, 156Worthington�Simpson Ltd 240

see also Simpson, J. & Co

factory 152

formation 151, 158

triple expansion pumping unit 256

Yaw, David 300

projects

Far East 407, 410, 412

Middle East 382

Yemen 359

Brittania rescue from 314�315, 315�316,362

sewage treatment project 361�362, 362water supply project 219, 251, 252, 265,

269, 313�314, 362, 363York, slow sand filter beds 140

York Buildings Waterworks Company 71,

72, 84, 87

York Waterworks Company, James

Simpson 192�1934

CHELSEA TO CAIRO

464

a history of john taylor & sons and their predecessors€¦ · · 2006-12-06a history of john...

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