We have drafted a company-wide cultural heritage strategy during the year, which has replaced our existing cultural heritage action plan. This strategy will ensure that we take a joined-up approach to our rich heritage assets. It will focus on working with our heritage partners to tell the story of our historic buildings and infrastructure, engaging our employees about the company's history, while strengthening our regulatory approach to heritage.
Our continuing work to replace some of London's oldest water mains unearthed some further interesting discoveries.
Among these was a bear baiting arena in Southwark, discovered as a result of a watching brief we kept on our Victorian Mains Replacement work in July and August 2009.
These works took place around Bankside, which is well known for its numerous theatres, housing the Globe, Rose, Swan and the Hope, as well as several bear baiting arenas, which had close links with the theatres.
The work uncovered walls associated with a bear baiting arena known as Bear Gardens Five or 'Davies' Baiting Ring', which dates to the 17th century. From the remains, it can be estimated that the arena was a six-sided construction. These walls are probably the last surviving evidence for any of the Restoration-period bear baiting arenas in Southwark and as such are of national importance.
At Beckton Sewage Treatment Works, we dismantled an 80-foot-high Victorian chimney to make way for work to build a huge new sewer.
The chimney, erected between 1887 and 1889, was being taken down as part of preparations for construction of the Lee Tunnel (see Thames Tideway Improvements).
It was created by Sir Joseph Bazalgette, who masterminded the creation of London's sewer system in the 1850s, as part of his work to create a rudimentary sewage treatment works at Beckton.
The chimney was designated a Grade II listed structure during the Lee Tunnel planning application process. It was originally one of a pair, the other having been removed in the mid-20th century.
It was taken down in sections, which will be stored safely on site, ready to be put up again in the same spot once work on the sewer is completed in 2014.
The top of the chimney featured a white Portland stone cap weighing 26 tonnes and decorated with an Egyptian style motif, which has already been removed.
As part of our Ten for Ten community investment programme (see separate section), we announced we would improve and enhance key water-related attractions. Below are some projects we have been working on in this area:
Over the past year we have been working closely with the Kew Bridge Steam Museum to develop the detailed plans for the Ten for Ten project. This project will be looking at the museum's interpretation material and revamping its 'Water for Life' gallery. The aim is to help achieve greater visitor numbers to the museum.
We contributed £68,500 towards roof improvements of the Grade I listed building.
Another Ten for Ten project is the development of an access road to the Beam Engine House at Crossness. Previously, access to the site was gained through our sewage treatment works.
The Crossness Engines Trust was awarded a Heritage Lottery Fund to refurbish the Beam Engine House, and as a condition of this grant an alternative route needed to be found. We are providing the funding required to procure the alternative access road needed.
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