HERITAGE INTERPRETATION STRATEGY ‘RIVER OF LIBERTY’ FULL REPORT Contemporary Culture Liquid History | 1 Foreword I am delighted that Historic England is working with Tideway and its partners to deliver this Heritage Interpretation Strategy. The Thames Tideway Tunnel will provide many new opportunities to understand and appreciate our relationship to the Thames better. The Heritage Interpretation Strategy is a Running alongside and integrating with the project-wide framework for the Thames historic system the new 25km tunnel will Tideway Tunnel Project, prepared in stretch from Acton Storm Tanks in the west consultation with Historic England. The to Abbey Mills and on to Beckton Sewage Strategy sets out the historic and cultural Treatment Works in the east. The scheme themes that will inspire the project designers, is driven from 24 work sites, and will create artists, and engineers in delivering the four acres of new publicly accessible land. new public realm, landscaping, art and Taking the concept “River of Liberty” as its infrastructure created by this project. This overarching theme, the Heritage Interpretation approach is key to getting the best for the Strategy looks at the Thames as a rich and public out of any new infrastructure project, complex allegory, encompassing the delivery and the Tideway Project is truly monumental. of London from the tyranny of disease, While the project is challenging, it is an dynamic concepts of personal liberty, and immensely exciting opportunity to build individual stories which reflect the many on the achievements and vision of Joseph communities and aspirations associated Bazalgette and those brave Victorian with the Thames. engineers who fought to build a cleaner, The project will not only safeguard our healthier London for the benefit of all its precious environment. It will create new inhabitants. Bazalgette’s sewer system, built landscapes, art works, and public between 1855 and 1865, used 318 million experiences which reflect the river’s rich Duncan Wilson – hand laid bricks. It saw the construction of history and reconnect us to the Thames, Chief Executive, Historic England the Chelsea and Victoria embankments and which is in many ways the lifeblood of our the fabulous pumping stations at Chelsea, great capital. This strategy establishes a Greenwich, Crossness and Abbey Mills. compelling cultural and historical narrative The historic sewer system changed not for the Tideway Tunnel Project. just the quality of the environment but the appearance and relationship of London to the Thames. It was a triumph of Victorian ambition and engineering for the public good. 2 | | 3 King George’s Park ............................................................................... 51 Contents Carnwath Road Riverside ...................................................................... 52 Cultural Meander Central – ‘Babylon’ to World City: Foreword .................................................................................. 1 Civic London .......................................................................... 53 Abbreviations ............................................................................ 7 CENTRAL – Liberty Sites ........................................................ 55 Falconbrook Pumping Station ................................................................ 55 1 Executive Summary 9 Kirtling Street Pumping Station and Heathwall Pumping Station ............... 55 The Thames Tideway Tunnel ....................................................10 Cremorne Wharf Depot ......................................................................... 56 Tideway Heritage Interpretation Strategy ..................................12 The Thames Embankments ................................................................... 57 Chelsea Embankment Foreshore ........................................................... 58 2 Introduction – Setting the Context 15 Albert Embankment Foreshore ............................................................... 59 The Value of the Historic Environment ......................................16 Victoria Embankment Foreshore .............................................................60 Understanding Thames’ Heritage .............................................16 Blackfriars Embankment Foreshore ........................................................60 Shad Thames Pumping Station .............................................................. 61 Development Consent Order Schedule 3 Requirements ...........18 Tideway Vision and Values .......................................................20 Cultural Meander East – The ‘Shipping Parishes’: Gateway to the World ..............................................................62 Public Art Strategy: Art on the Tideway: turning to face the River ...........................................................20 EAST – Liberty Sites ............................................................... 65 Chambers Wharf .................................................................................. 65 3 Interpretation Strategy 23 Earl Pumping Station ............................................................................. 66 King Edward Memorial Park Foreshore ................................................... 67 Principles .................................................................................24 Bekesbourne Street .............................................................................. 69 Purpose ..................................................................................27 Deptford Church Street ......................................................................... 70 Aim .........................................................................................27 Greenwich Pumping Station .................................................................. 71 Objectives ................................................................................28 Abbey Mills Pumping Station .................................................................. 71 Audience .................................................................................28 Reflections ...............................................................................72 A Cultural Manifesto for the ‘River of Liberty’ ............................29 4 Interpretation Framework 38 Methodology .......................................................................... 40 Framework Structure ...............................................................41 Principal theme: ‘River of Liberty’ ............................................................ 42 River as allegory .................................................................................... 43 Cultural Meanders and their Liberty Sites ................................................ 45 Cultural Meander West – Recreation to Industry: Society in Transition ................................................................ 46 WEST – Liberty Sites .............................................................. 48 Acton Storm Tanks ................................................................................ 48 Hammersmith Pumping Station .............................................................. 49 Barn Elms ............................................................................................. 49 Putney Embankment Foreshore ............................................................. 50 Dormay Street ....................................................................................... 51 4 | | 5 5 Guidelines for Interpretation 75 Appendix A – DCO Commitments and Introduction .............................................................................76 Schedule 3 Requirements 92 Landscape Design ...................................................................76 A.1 Interpretation Strategy Design Principles .....................................................................77 (DCO Schedule 3 PW11) ....................................................92 Application of Narratives to Design ......................................................... 78 A.2 Design Principal (HRTG.07) ................................................92 Design Process and Management ...........................................78 A.3 OAWSI 11.3 Heritage Interpretation and Design evaluation .................................................................................. 78 Outreach Opportunities .....................................................92 Public Art .................................................................................79 A.4 DCO Site Specific Requirements ...................................... 93 Communications/Story telling .................................................. 80 A.5 WI GEN 7300. Employer’s architecture and Implementation and Operation .................................................81 landscape works specifications – Introduction GEN.0.2 Design requirements ........................................... 93 6 Delivery – Opportunities for Interpretation & Legacy 83 Appendix B – DCO Schedule 3 Site Specific Heritage and the public realm ................................................. 84 Requirements to which the Heritage Thames Discovery Programme ............................................... 84 Interpretation Strategy may apply 94 Education ............................................................................... 86 Appendix C – Relevant Policy and Guidance 98 Crossness Pumping Station .....................................................87