Victorian pumping stations are colourful cathedrals of utility.

Their imposing and striking exteriors enclose highly decorative cast-iron frames, built to encage powerful steam engines.

They are glorious buildings which display the Victorians' architectural confidence and engineering skills. More than that, they represent a key part of the story of urban development and how our towns and cities were shaped in this period of ground-breaking invention and civic pride.

In this illustrated guide, Trevor Yorke tells the story of Victorian pumping stations and explains why they were built in such a flamboyant manner, describing their architectural features and showing how their mighty steam engines worked.

He includes examples of their glorious interior decoration from pumping stations across the country and provides a detailed list of those which are open to visitors.