1-152-696 - Ann Ronan Picture Library/Heritage-Images

Waterworks at York Buildings, Strand, supplying water to London from the Thames, 1790. Westminster Bridge can be seen in the background. The waterworks used a Savery steam engine for pumping, but it proved unsuccessful. It was replaced with a Newcomen engine in 1726, but this was discontinued in 1731 as it was too expensive. It was replaced by a larger model in 1742.