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
Source Figure numbers
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
Source Figure numbers
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
Source Figure numbers
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:
Source Figure numbers
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
water supply project 406
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
marine discharges 336
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
CHELSEA TO CAIRO
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
St Petersburg 252, 253
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
St Petersburg 252, 253
Singapore 252
Taylor, Godfrey 221, 230, 232�234, 232Baghdad 307, 367
biography 422, 426
Cairo 254
consultancies 231
marine discharges 336
partnership 5, 230, 231, 261
projects 231
publications 258
St Petersburg 252, 253
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
water supply project 406
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