EducationEducation at Kew Bridge Steam Museum
Schools Learning
Kew Bridge Steam Museum's education programmes are designed to explore the technology and industry behind the Victorian water supply system and how it affected people's lives.
We provide both taught sessions and resources for self-led visits.
Pre-visits to the museum can be arranged.
During the reign of Queen Victoria, the population of London rapidly grew beyond the capabilities of the wells and pumps that traditionally had supplied Londoners with their water. Steam engines, the driving force behind the Industrial Revolution, provided the solution to the question of how to meet the growing demand for water.
Our cross-curricular education sessions allow teachers to build a bespoke visit that meets their specific needs.
NEW this year is a Key Stage 3 session looking at the Industrial Revolution.
Bespoke sessions can also be created to fit the needs of your students. For more information please contact our Education Officer at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , or on 0208 5684757.
WWII: Waterworks at War Schools Event - 27th and 28th September 2012
Using the opportunities presented by the museum, the event will provide workshops on the Home Guard, rationing, life as an Evacuee, a ride on the museum's own
steam railway, the role of the ARP Warden and the Auxiliary Fire Service. It is set to be an exciting and stimulating event, so early booking is recommended.
Feedback from previous years:
"Excellent, educational, best WWII trip I've been on"
"It was one of the best days out we have had and the children felt they stepped back in time"
"The children gained so much as did the staff from an outstanding day"
Each day is limited to 5 groups of max. 30 students.
Recommended age: Key Stage 2
Cost: £6.50 per student
Adult & Extended Learning
Kew Bridge Steam Museum has an extensive archive covering steam pumping engines and the water supply industry, focusing largely on the history of London's water supply. Guided tours of the museum are also available.
The Museum has tried to collect material directly relating to water supply and it’s associated technologies, and in particular steam power. Much of the material in the archive is of a technical nature, documents which can give detailed insights into the engineering standards and practices of the times. However oral history interviews with former employees give more personal impressions of what life was like at the waterworks, and historic staff lists and staff magazines are increasingly accessed by researchers interested in local and family history.
More details of our archive collection are available in our Archive Guide.
We welcome researchers and will be happy to arrange a session with one of our archivists.