Present: Jondoe, Stoop, Zero, dsankt
Imagine you're in the great metropolis of London as the 19th century draws to a close. For almost 25 years now an ingenious creation known as the underground railway has bounced people around the city. Your daily commute might be similar to that of journalist R.D. Blumenthal as he described it in 1887:
"I had my first experience of Hades to-day, and if the real thing is to be like that I shall never again do anything wrong... The atmosphere was a mixture of sulfur, col dust and foul fumes from the oil lamp above, so that by the time we reached Moorgate Street I was near dead of asphyxiation and heat. I should think these Underground railways must soon be discontinued, for they are a menace to health."
R.D. Blumenthal 23rd June 1887
Two decades of rattling and bumping around underground London in wooden carriages wearing their three piece suits (or petticoat, stockings and dress) breathing in fumes and coughing up soot finally exhausted the patience of ill-tempered Londoners and public pressure forced the competing underground railway companies to enter discussions over which system of electrolysation (as they called it) to install on their lines. To settle the quarrel a Board of Trade judge decreed in December 1901 that (much to the bane of future explorers) the 3rd rail system would be installed into the major underground lines instead of overhead power. With 1000 men working on the lines every night the underground railways of the District and Metropolitan lines were electrified by 1905. The smoke billowing steam engines with their blazing coal furnaces were extinguished and put to rest.
The windows were bricked up during WW2 for extra protection.
"The District [Line company] built an enormous power station at Lots Road on the Fulham and Chelsea border... Given that it was big enough to power several lines, this was a deliberate and powerful statement of Yerkes's intention to unite the underground network."
The Subterranean Railway, by Christian Wolmar
Lots Road powerstation would eventually drive most of the London Underground, with assistance from two smaller powerstations at Neasden (built by the Metropolitan) and Greenwich (built by the London City Council to power the tram network). Upon completion in 1905 Lots Road was claimed to be the largest powerstation ever built with the biggest stacks in the world rising 275ft, with a internal diameter of 40ft.
Lots Road is surely a dazzling jewel in London's industrial crown, one of the last remaining ziggurats of industry in a metropolis overflowing with historical buildings more appealing to the tourist dollar. Battersea, courtesy of distinctive architecture and that popular album cover will always be the best known powerstation in London. Battersea however is barely a shell with wheelchair access and security so lax they should be handing out maps at the chubby booth. Lots Road in contrast is a fortress. The east side borders a quiet residential street with 8 story brick walls and enough cameras and razor wire to garotte an entire concert of asphyxiate-loving, emo attention seekers.
The opposite side of the station drops directly into a short canal which originally served as the dock for coal loaded barges. This leaves only 10% of the perimeter open to those chasing an after hours visit and the site is blanketed of course by the ubiquitous electronic eye and coils of the sharp stuff.
Being drainers at heart paddling and wetness is a mild inconvenience so we dangled our feet over the canal and manually inflated our little boats, having taken extra care to stow them safely in our packs as we traversed the razor wire and thorns. Across the canal a security guard wandered from inside the buildings, did a quick circuit of the yard and returned to the hut. It's always more fun to chase the cheese of a motivated cat. A quick paddle and some remarkable vertical agility from JD had us standing outside the station, wiping any stray water from our shoes. From below Lots appears larger again, a decrepit looking juggernaut with million pound waterfront views.
Photo: Jondoe
Inside the station is remarkably newer and cleaner than the century old exterior suggests as the station was refitted in the 30s to produce 105,000kw and again in the 60s with 6 new turbo-alternators producing 180,000kw. Surprisingly for a powerstation so centrally located it wasn't converted (in this case to gas fuel) until 1977 to reduce emission and pollution levels. Sadly at this time two of the chimneys were dismantled. As a result the equipment itself is less antiquated than we had expected, instead displaying that dull utilitarian sheen.
Rumour of powertunnels had caught our attention and with a little Macguyver ingenuity we popped open the door from behind and waltzed into the cable filled power transmission tunnels. The tunnels are far more modern than the rest of the station sporting clean concrete sides and aluminium racking. They run into a smaller substation/switching house but a welded plate halted any further progress. Still tunnels are tunnels are tunnels, we were happy.
The main control room retains much of its former glory, owning mainly to the full height bay windows which overlook the turbine hall and the neat parquetry flooring. Many of the large glass faced instruments and the other fittings have unfortunately been removed leaving gaping holes in the consoles.
Lot's roof gives a great view over Chelsea and the surrounds, it's a relaxing place to spend an evening with the emulsion soaking up the light. Across the Thames Battersea's four chimney stacks rise silhouetted against the yellow light pollution of the city. It's sad to see the shell of something so great, Lots Road will go the same way. Stripped, gutted and finally refitted into apartments. Such is the lifecycle of these buildings, so the world turns.
Photo: Jondoe
We took a jaunt downstairs, finding ourselves above the chubby booth spying upon the secca doing whatever seccas do in the cold wee hours of the night. We passed over his hut in the aerial walkway shortly before he saw fit to scour the site for intruders and discarded pennies. On the double we tiptoed back through the station, giggling like schoolgirls at the secca clattering below. We burst out a fire escape rigged with reed switches a hit the legs like 4 little mice careening through the kitchen with a chunk of cheese. Virgin sites always get the blood pumping!
Shouts outs to Jondoe and Zero for our original mission, and Stoop who attended the return trip. This writeup is a mix of the two. Shouts to those who made it this far, hope you enjoyed it. Lastly, to the few in the UK urbex establishment hating on our kin and what we do - keep it up. The boilers at Lots may be cool and quiet but all you're doing is fueling our fires. Got anything else you want the cheat codes for?
Love and kisses, ds.
Stoop climbing the stack. Photo: Zero
Imagine you're in the great metropolis of London as the 19th century draws to a close. For almost 25 years now an ingenious creation known as the underground railway has bounced people around the city. Your daily commute might be similar to that of journalist R.D. Blumenthal as he described it in 1887:
"I had my first experience of Hades to-day, and if the real thing is to be like that I shall never again do anything wrong... The atmosphere was a mixture of sulfur, col dust and foul fumes from the oil lamp above, so that by the time we reached Moorgate Street I was near dead of asphyxiation and heat. I should think these Underground railways must soon be discontinued, for they are a menace to health."
R.D. Blumenthal 23rd June 1887
Two decades of rattling and bumping around underground London in wooden carriages wearing their three piece suits (or petticoat, stockings and dress) breathing in fumes and coughing up soot finally exhausted the patience of ill-tempered Londoners and public pressure forced the competing underground railway companies to enter discussions over which system of electrolysation (as they called it) to install on their lines. To settle the quarrel a Board of Trade judge decreed in December 1901 that (much to the bane of future explorers) the 3rd rail system would be installed into the major underground lines instead of overhead power. With 1000 men working on the lines every night the underground railways of the District and Metropolitan lines were electrified by 1905. The smoke billowing steam engines with their blazing coal furnaces were extinguished and put to rest.
The windows were bricked up during WW2 for extra protection.
"The District [Line company] built an enormous power station at Lots Road on the Fulham and Chelsea border... Given that it was big enough to power several lines, this was a deliberate and powerful statement of Yerkes's intention to unite the underground network."
The Subterranean Railway, by Christian Wolmar
Lots Road powerstation would eventually drive most of the London Underground, with assistance from two smaller powerstations at Neasden (built by the Metropolitan) and Greenwich (built by the London City Council to power the tram network). Upon completion in 1905 Lots Road was claimed to be the largest powerstation ever built with the biggest stacks in the world rising 275ft, with a internal diameter of 40ft.
Lots Road is surely a dazzling jewel in London's industrial crown, one of the last remaining ziggurats of industry in a metropolis overflowing with historical buildings more appealing to the tourist dollar. Battersea, courtesy of distinctive architecture and that popular album cover will always be the best known powerstation in London. Battersea however is barely a shell with wheelchair access and security so lax they should be handing out maps at the chubby booth. Lots Road in contrast is a fortress. The east side borders a quiet residential street with 8 story brick walls and enough cameras and razor wire to garotte an entire concert of asphyxiate-loving, emo attention seekers.
The opposite side of the station drops directly into a short canal which originally served as the dock for coal loaded barges. This leaves only 10% of the perimeter open to those chasing an after hours visit and the site is blanketed of course by the ubiquitous electronic eye and coils of the sharp stuff.
Being drainers at heart paddling and wetness is a mild inconvenience so we dangled our feet over the canal and manually inflated our little boats, having taken extra care to stow them safely in our packs as we traversed the razor wire and thorns. Across the canal a security guard wandered from inside the buildings, did a quick circuit of the yard and returned to the hut. It's always more fun to chase the cheese of a motivated cat. A quick paddle and some remarkable vertical agility from JD had us standing outside the station, wiping any stray water from our shoes. From below Lots appears larger again, a decrepit looking juggernaut with million pound waterfront views.
Photo: Jondoe
Inside the station is remarkably newer and cleaner than the century old exterior suggests as the station was refitted in the 30s to produce 105,000kw and again in the 60s with 6 new turbo-alternators producing 180,000kw. Surprisingly for a powerstation so centrally located it wasn't converted (in this case to gas fuel) until 1977 to reduce emission and pollution levels. Sadly at this time two of the chimneys were dismantled. As a result the equipment itself is less antiquated than we had expected, instead displaying that dull utilitarian sheen.
Rumour of powertunnels had caught our attention and with a little Macguyver ingenuity we popped open the door from behind and waltzed into the cable filled power transmission tunnels. The tunnels are far more modern than the rest of the station sporting clean concrete sides and aluminium racking. They run into a smaller substation/switching house but a welded plate halted any further progress. Still tunnels are tunnels are tunnels, we were happy.
The main control room retains much of its former glory, owning mainly to the full height bay windows which overlook the turbine hall and the neat parquetry flooring. Many of the large glass faced instruments and the other fittings have unfortunately been removed leaving gaping holes in the consoles.
Lot's roof gives a great view over Chelsea and the surrounds, it's a relaxing place to spend an evening with the emulsion soaking up the light. Across the Thames Battersea's four chimney stacks rise silhouetted against the yellow light pollution of the city. It's sad to see the shell of something so great, Lots Road will go the same way. Stripped, gutted and finally refitted into apartments. Such is the lifecycle of these buildings, so the world turns.
Photo: Jondoe
We took a jaunt downstairs, finding ourselves above the chubby booth spying upon the secca doing whatever seccas do in the cold wee hours of the night. We passed over his hut in the aerial walkway shortly before he saw fit to scour the site for intruders and discarded pennies. On the double we tiptoed back through the station, giggling like schoolgirls at the secca clattering below. We burst out a fire escape rigged with reed switches a hit the legs like 4 little mice careening through the kitchen with a chunk of cheese. Virgin sites always get the blood pumping!
Shouts outs to Jondoe and Zero for our original mission, and Stoop who attended the return trip. This writeup is a mix of the two. Shouts to those who made it this far, hope you enjoyed it. Lastly, to the few in the UK urbex establishment hating on our kin and what we do - keep it up. The boilers at Lots may be cool and quiet but all you're doing is fueling our fires. Got anything else you want the cheat codes for?
Love and kisses, ds.
Stoop climbing the stack. Photo: Zero
The turbine hall looks amazing even with the more modern equipment. Me fave is the shot of the Control Room -looks like some kind of derranged pipe organ!! Top work chaps!! 
