Overview

Crossness is brilliant. A true hidden gem. I don't know where to start about what makes this so special and unique. Just go, you will not be disappointed. A former sewage pumping station with impressive Victoriana bling. It originally opened in 1865 to serve all of South London's sewage system. It was decommissioned in the 1950s and volunteers of the Crossness Engines Trust are restoring it to it magnificent glory. The public can visit it on Open Days and for guided tours. The entire site is step free apart from the upper and lower floors of the Beam Engine Room, which are only accessible by stairs. there's an accessible toilet and super friendly and knowledgeable staff and volunteers. Things to see and do include: The impressive, ornately decorated Beam Engine House with its four gigantic beam engines, which regularly feature in films and on TV. Try to visit on a Steam Day, when you will see the Prince Consort engine working. The Great Stink exhibition were you can find out how the world's first urban sewage system was developed by Joseph Bazalgette. Victorian Toilet Display which includes an original Thomas Crapper's toilet. Attend a live system model demonstration. Watch the introductory film. Visit the café and shop. Explore the other buildings, the Fitting Shop and the small engine's display in the Value House. Visit the archives (when open) Free drop-in make and take craft activities for families (they were making pomanders during my visit). Ride the RANG narrow-gauge railway, which has a wheelchair space Enjoy the gardens.

Transport & Parking

TRAIN The nearest train station is Abbey Wood. This is step free with lifts and has an accessible toilet. It is one of the terminuses for the Elizabeth Line, just make sure you board the train going to Abbey Wood via Canary Wharf and NOT the Shenfeld via Stratford train. The station is also served by mainline trains. From Abbey Wood Station and Crossness is well over a mile, depending what route you take. On their website is a video showing the route but there is no auditory commentary. I would suggest taking a taxi or coming on one of the days Crossness are providing transport from the station, if you have a mobility impairment ROUTEMASTER BUS At the moment (Spring 2024), Crossness are trialling a bus service from Abbey Wood Station to Crossness. Currently the bus used is a historic Routemaster bus, see photo. There is a step from pavement to platform and then a larger step from platform to downstairs seating. There are helpfully located grab rails to help you on and the conductor will also assist if required. The upper deck is only accessible by stairs. The bus stops in Bazalgette Way, by the Thames Water security gate. RANG RAILWAY (Royal Arsenal Narrow Gauge) The entrance to the site is in Bazalgette Way, by the Thames Water security gate. From there is a double wide metal gate, which had one side open. There is the a gentle sloping, zing zag tarmacked path up to the RANG railway, called John Ridley Walk. It has a handrail on one side. There is no seating along the route. When you get to the top, you are standing on the Ridgeway, which all the sewers of South London pass underneath your feet. The path then gently descends to the RANG Railway. If a train is not in, it should return within 5 - 10 minutes. I just missed a train and did not have a long wait for the next trip. There is plenty of bench seating, some with back support, and no arms. If it is busy and there is a queue to get into the railway station platform it may not be easy to notice it or get to. It is step free from platform to carriage. However, you may have to lower your head when getting in. On the day I travelled the RANG Railway had 2 carriages. On the 2nd carriage there is a wheelchair space. The journey is lots of fun and quickly takes you towards the main buildings. On exiting at the other end, I passed through wide open double metal gate and then it was a short and gentle slope, with no handrails or rest stops, via the Blue Badge parking to the main buildings. Alternatively, there is a walking path with seating to the buildings. (I did not so this route so unable to comment about it). BLUE BADGE PARKING The main parking area is at the end of Bazalgette Way, to the right about 40 metres from the Thames Water security gate. Blue Badge parking is a short level walk, adjacent to the main buildings. Blue Badge parking needs to be pre-booked a few days in advance and details of how to do this are on their website. There were two members of staff in this area when I visit, so there is help with directions and also someone to keep an eye on your vehicle.

Access

This is a remarkably accessible venue. Everywhere has step free access apart from the upper and lower floors of the Beam Engine Room, which are only accessible by stairs. Please remember that this is an industrial heritage site and while flat or on the ground floor, some of the areas inside and outside can be slightly uneven, but not to the extent that it impacts/ spoils the visit. BOILER HOUSE This is the largest building on the site. It contains the Beam Engine House, exhibitions, café, shop and accessible toilet. There was bench seating in the exhibition area without back support or arms. There were free standing fold up chairs, with back support and no arms, and tables in the café. There are also fold up chairs in the system model demonstration area (and I assume in the cinema space, as I ran out of time to watch the video). BEAM ENGINE HOUSE This area is by timed admission ticket from the ticket desk in the entrance to the building. There is not an additional charge to enter, but it is ticked to control numbers at any one time. Visitors have to wear hard hats and safety glasses to enter this area. The items are available to collect from a desk by the entrance to the Beam Engine Room. Staff/ volunteers are available to fit you for your hat size. Items are returned on exiting the room. Inside are four large engines. Presently only the Prince Consort has been restored to working order. Therefore if possible go on a Steam Day to see it working, it is impressive. Some of this space has pierced flooring. The ground floor can get busy and sometimes visitors are focusing on taking photos or looking at the steam engines or architecture, there is magnificent, colourful ironwork, and they may not be mindful of other visitors, so just be aware that other people may accidently bump into you. The ground floor is entirely accessible. The upper and lower floors are only accessible by stairs, see my photos. There is a one way route for the stairs and a handrail on one side. There is only three steps before the first bend and a 90 degree turn. On seeing this I realised it was totally inaccessible for me. Prior to visiting I searched the internet for information or a video about getting to and the upper floors. I had been unable to ascertain if maybe some of the stairs would be ok and I pondered if I would be able to get partially up, however, having been there and spoken to another crutch user while I was there, the steps were totally inaccessible for both of us. Yes I was disappointed and it would have been helpful to have known before that this was the case so I could have got over my disappointment and known what to expect before hand. There are screens showing what the upper areas are like if you are unable to access them. On the day I visited the chairs in this area had not been put back after filming, but usually there are some available. Even if the stairs are accessible to you, please be aware that the upper floor has views looking down and some visitors have felt dizzy with this. FITTING SHOP There were 2 benches with back support and arms immediately outside the entrance. I did not notice any seating inside, but to be honest I only had a quick look. VALUE HOUSE This building houses a small engines collection. There are benches with back support and arms. GARDENS There is a lovely level outside area with garden with colourful flower beds, lawn, tarmacked paths and bench seating with arms and back support.

Toilets

There is an accessible toilet in the Boiler House, the main building, next to the café. There is manual fold out door. The accessible toilet is quite spacious, but there were a couple of bins and toilet brush holders next to the toilet transfer area. There were plenty of grab rails and an emergency cord that did not reach to the floor. The space is shared with a baby changing facilities. The toilet was clean and well maintained.

Staff

Staff were exceptional. They were friendly, knowledgeable and engaging. Visitors are welcome to chat and ask questions. There are plenty of volunteers, many who have been involving in restoring the engines/ building, in the Beam Engine House to answer questions. There is a live system model demonstration with plenty of opportunity for Q and A. I spoke to Kevin, Duty Manager on the day, about access. I found him extremely approachable, we spent quite a lot of time discussing access, he took notes and he was very solution focused and offered suggestions. Most of the comments were about improving the access information on their website and this was met with a positive response. Here are the points I raised and Kevin's response: Q1: Routemaster is not step free and is therefore not accessible to wheelchair users and some people with mobility impairments. I suggested that they might like to trial and advertise a step free/ wheelchair user space vehicle open day. A1: At the moment they are just trialling the Routemaster to see how popular it is. They will look into a more accessible vehicle and maybe this could park in the Blue Badge parking area so it would be very close to the main buildings and there would also be the option for people to use the RANG Railway for a return journey. Q2: The John Ridley Walk from the entrance to the RANG Railway is up a slope with a handrail at one side. Could information/photo of this be put on their website to inform people prior to visiting. A2: They will look at updating their website. Q3: RANG Railway's wheelchair space is not included in their website access information. A3: Kevin informed me of this as it is not included on their website. They will look at updating their website. Q4: No chairs in the Beam Engine House. A4: Kevin apologised, as it is not usually like that. They have recently had filming in there and they must have forgotten to return the chairs. They would arrange to return the chairs to the room. Q5: It would be helpful for people if they knew in advance what the stairs to the upper floor of the Beam Engine House were like, and if it would be possible to have a video, photos or description of the stairs so people knew what to expect. A5: They will look at updating their website. Q6: On the day I visited due to the configuration of the café tables and chairs there was only a narrow space to pass to get to the accessible toilet. A6: Kevin apologised, as it is not usually like that. The cleaners had laid it out that way. They would arrange to put the original layout back which allows 4 foot corridor gap to the toilets/ accessible toilets. Kevin also told me that their archives which are on a lower floor are accessible via an alternative step free route and again they will look at updating their website. Huge thank you to Kevin who was just brilliant. Also to Rob, who works there, for giving me a lift in his car so I could catch the Routemaster.

Anything else you wish to tell us?

Visiting Crossness has long been on my to do list, with their introduction of Routemaster from the station this has made it possible. The Beam Engine House which I have seen so many photos of over the years (well I am a London history nerd), did not disappointment. There is so much to see, do and learn about. It's perfect if you want a quirky, fun day out and equally enjoyable if you want to learn something about the Crossness's incredible history and its contribution to health and the development of of London as the world's first modern city. There really is something for everyone, and it is also very family friendly. Crossness is so accessible apart from the upper floor of the Beam Engine Room. I think with some small changes to their website, it will be easier for disabled people to discover that. Really can't recommend this highly enough, I loved it. They are planning to bring the other beam engines into working order, so it is a place to keep coming back to, to see what's new.

Photos