Image credit: Designhistory2 / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · 2020-04-26 ↗
Quentin Blake Centre: Illustration Inside London’s Historic Waterworks
Clerkenwell / New River Head · Clerkenwell → Angel → Rosebery Avenue → Great Ormond Street → Holborn · Industrial heritage / illustration / water history
Story
The Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration now stands on the historic site of New River Head, the terminus of the New River, an ambitious feat of engineering that, from 1613, brought fresh water from Hertfordshire to a rapidly expanding London. What visitors see today is a remarkable transformation of what was, for over three centuries, the very heart of the capital’s water supply, a vital piece of infrastructure that enabled the city to grow exponentially. Conceived by Sir Hugh Myddelton, the New River culminated here, where its waters were collected in ponds and reservoirs before being distributed to London's homes. As the city swelled, so did the demand for water and pressure, leading to technological advancements on site. In 1768, construction began on the impressive Engine House, designed to accommodate the powerful pumps and steam engines needed to drive the water further. This structure was repeatedly enlarged, each expansion a testament to London's relentless thirst and the industrial progress of the era, housing at its peak one of the largest steam engines in London. After being superseded by modern systems under the Metropolitan Water Board in the 20th century, the complex entered a period of dereliction and underuse. Fortunately, it has undergone a meticulous restoration, honouring its original industrial architecture, to become the world’s largest dedicated space for illustration. As you wander through the grounds, taking in the Engine House, the boiler and coal-store buildings, and remnants of the original channels and ponds, you are not merely observing a new cultural centre; you are stepping into a foundational layer of London’s history: the unseen network that enabled its very existence and prosperity.
What to look for
Look for the historic Engine House, the boiler and coal-store buildings, and remnants of the original waterworks system, which now contrast with the new spaces dedicated to illustration.
Secret detail
This site served as the terminus of the New River from 1613, and for centuries it was a crucial component in providing the fresh water that allowed London to expand.
Where exactly
Enter the Quentin Blake Centre at 1 Myddelton Passage. The public route passes through the historic New River Head site.
Orientation
Use the public route between Myddelton Passage and Amwell Street to view the site as a former waterworks.
Why it matters
This place illustrates how vital infrastructure, like water supply, drove London's development and how its industrial heritage can be repurposed for new cultural uses, blending history and creativity.
Access & opening
Current opening Wed–Sun 10:00–17:00; public path 09:30–17:30. Check live calendar.
Free public spaces; paid gallery exhibitions.
We never show live status. Check opening hours before you go.
Accessibility
Centre provides step-free access information; nearest step-free rail stations are King’s Cross St Pancras and Farringdon.