Walthamstow Pumphouse Museum

This volunteer-run museum is housed in a former Victorian sewage pumping station and celebrates the industrial and transport heritage of the Lea Valley.

Among other achievements, Walthamstow Was the birthplace of Britain's first petrol-driven car (the Bremer car, now housed in the Vestry House Museum), and was a Pioneer of the aviation industry, witnessing the inaugural flight of the first all British built aircraft, flown by a British pilot.

Walthamstow was also where Britain's first standardised bus was manufactured — the B type buses secured a place in history when many of them served as troop carriers, travelling to and from the trenches of WWI. A 2/3 scale replica 1910 is on display and gives a good idea of what it would be like to travel aboard one; the decommissioned 1968 Victoria Line Underground railway carriage is the real deal however, and has proved a popular location for film crews and fashion shoots, as well as visitors.

The pump house itself is still home to pair of rare19th-century Marshall steam engines that used to operate the pumping station. These can occasionally be seen in action (see website for `running days'). The museum shop stocks books on local history but its main focus is on transport, and rail in particular, with an extensive selection of books and scale models.


Museum Facilities

Cafe

Audio Guide

Wheelchair Access

Restaurant

Tour Guide

Wifi

Shop

Photography

Venue Hire

All information is drawn from or provided by the museums themselves and every effort is made to ensure it is correct. Please remember to double check opening hours with the venue concerned before making a special visit.