Report - Camden Lock Underground Vaults (The Winding Chambers) - London, March 2020

[Bikin Glynn]

Im not usually into this type of thing but thats really good, Love the scale of the place, having rooms that big underground shows the engineering brilliance.
Very nicely done

 

[paulpowers]

That is fit as fuck
Cracking pics

 

[Llama]

Im not usually into this type of thing but thats really good, Love the scale of the place, having rooms that big underground shows the engineering brilliance.
Very nicely done

Thanks mate really appreciate it. It certainly is something of an architectural gem. I love anything 19th century ahah

 

[Llama]

That is fit as fuck
Cracking pics

Thank you man it’s an amazing place this one. Much appreciated

 

[Eroze]

Great report! went here about a month before you and got absolutely caked in the mud. We found a top hat there too and looked like a right twat walking home in it.

 

[Llama]

Great report! went here about a month before you and got absolutely caked in the mud. We found a top hat there too and looked like a right twat walking home in it.

Ahhhh nice one mate it’s very impressive in there for sure. A top hat!?! Haha! I’ve had this shot printed off ahah, it’s very photogenic in that place

 

[Eroze]

Ahhhh nice one mate it’s very impressive in there for sure. A top hat!?! Haha! I’ve had this shot printed off ahah, it’s very photogenic in that place

rip your hoodie, I went in trainers and they were destroyed after that. And yeah definitely! took a similar shot the next chamber along I think. Props for the camera quality though, didn't dare bring my DSLR near the water

 

[Llama]

rip your hoodie, I went in trainers and they were destroyed after that. And yeah definitely! took a similar shot the next chamber along I think. Props for the camera quality though, didn't dare bring my DSLR near the water

Ah nice one mate haha, awesome shot that!

 

[jewelleryquartergirl]

Lovely place - it deserves listing by Historic England, but will it be destroyed by HS2 ?
Brickwork has survived pretty well, and it’s managed to escape disfigurement by vandalism.

 

[Llama]

Lovely place - it deserves listing by Historic England, but will it be destroyed by HS2 ?
Brickwork has survived pretty well, and it’s managed to escape disfigurement by vandalism.

From what I’ve read, English heritage had it grade 2 listen in April 2010. So it’s protected ) I noticed they installed pressure plates and vibration sensors in the ceiling for what I assume is in preparation for HS2. I doubt the project will interfere with it, I think they just need to maintain the brickwork to ensure its durable to support the new rail above

 

[Phil_A]

History:
Constructed beneath the streets of Camden, and designed by railway engineer Robert Stephenson, this set of underground vaults under Camden Lock were used to house stationary winding engines to haul locomotives along the railway line above the vaults.
The stationary winding engines started service on 14 October 1837, and for the following 7 years, trains of up to 12 coaches weighing about 60 tons were worked from Euston up Camden Bank along the incline by an endless rope that ran around a 20 ft driving wheel and other large sheaves and pulleys within the underground chambers.
However, after encountering numerous problems with the system in place, a second well was dug 30ft further back, where the rope then entered the sheave room where it encountered the return wheel.

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However, after just 7 years, the chambers were stripped of their winding machinery due to developments of the steam engine, effectively making the need for rope haulage redundant. The abandonment of the vaults subsequently led to flooding from the nearby Regents Canal, and with no real urgency to pump water out, they were left unattended.
Despite the constant flooding, and a few feet of silt and mud lining the floors of the 3 main chambers. The engine house vaults have survived relatively well, excluding the partial collapse in the northeast boiler room.
And till this day, the vaults remain hidden from the public eye, as many people wander the streets of Camden totally oblivious to what lays beneath the lock. The site is now due to cross paths with the HS2 scheme, as the main line is set to pass directly above it, just as trains passed above the vaults almost two centuries ago...

The Vaults Under Construction - 1830s

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The Explore:
I've explored the nearby Camden Rathole more times than I can count, but never thought to venture into the flooded chambers which join into the small tunnel network on the surface level.
I first encountered the flooded vaults in late November last year, but with the water being at a depth too great for even waders, I had no choice but to let it go. Fortunately, what I presume must either be the local council or network rail, have obviously been extracting a large quantity of sludge along with the majority of the water in preparation for HS2, making it just about possible to wade through.
Once my mate and I had straddled along the edge of one of the vaults, whilst clinging to a row of flimsy conduit, we reached what would've been the main engine room, which at one point housed the pulley system for the locomotives.
Unfortunately, not all of this place was as accessible and I would've hoped. The 3 main vaults were for the most part still quite severely flooded, and at first glance, you could be forgiven for thinking it was some sort of underground reservoir. However, with the water being relatively clear in some parts, we were able to judge the depth and step carefully in some of the more shallow sections.
This was certainly one of the more impressive 19th-century structures I've had the privilege to explore. However, with work on HS2 temporarily on hold due to current circumstances, I have no doubt the chambers have since refilled to a deeper level making access a lot more... damp. Upon exiting this unique location, I couldn't help but think about just how much lays beneath the streets, and just how much there is not just under London, but under towns and cities across the world.
Well and truly worth getting soaked trainers and damp jeans for this place.

1. The Main Engine Room

2. Facing Towards The Western Boiler Room

3. The Rope Tensioning Room (Right)

4. The Central Passage

5. The Sheave Room

6. Second Tensioning Room

7. The Eastern Boiler Room

8. The Coal Store

9. Looking Into Both Sheave Rooms

10. Facing Back Towards The Engine Room

11. The Second Coal Store

12. Exit Of The Coal Store

- Thanks For Looking -
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I'm a newbie here, but this is an awsome report, I never knew anything like it existed. Did you manaage to turn the lights on, or are those bright lights your own rig? Quality pics though.

 

[Philwill80]

Amazing pictures! Captured the atmosphere very well!

 

[jewelleryquartergirl]

From what I’ve read, English heritage had it grade 2 listen in April 2010. So it’s protected ) I noticed they installed pressure plates and vibration sensors in the ceiling for what I assume is in preparation for HS2. I doubt the project will interfere with it, I think they just need to maintain the brickwork to ensure its durable to support the new rail above

Thanks for that info.

 

[Llama]

Thanks for that info.

No worries mate

 

[Llama]

Amazing pictures! Captured the atmosphere very well!

Thanks man, appreciate that