Water-Raising Technologies of the Chelsea Water Works Company Prior to the Introduction of their First Boulton and Watt Steam Engine

AbstractIn order to satisfy central London’s growing demand for reliable water supplies, the Chelsea Water Works Company (CWW hereafter) commissioned a series of engineering solutions including tide-mills, horse mills, fire engines and cast-iron pipes. This account, based on the CWW Court of Directors minute books, examines the processes, knowledge and suppliers involved with the deployment of these technologies and shows how they met the various challenges that the company faced.