Built in 1878, this marvel of Victorian engineering, it was far ahead of its time, used to regulate the temperature of the Edinburgh Police Chambers, and its survival offers a rare glimpse into 19th century innovation.
Remarkably, this engine is the second-oldest surviving Crossley four-stroke engine in the world and the oldest in Europe. Only two other examples exist, the oldest is housed at the Henry Ford Museum in Michigan, USA, and another in Denmark. Its discovery, in near original condition, by founder Andrew Landsburgh, adds a significant chapter to Britain’s industrial heritage.
It’s unclear whether the engine was newly installed in the building or a second-hand acquisition. Adding to the intrigue, research revealed a royal connection. In the 1800s, Edinburgh Police Chambers and Balmoral Castle, the Royal Family’s Scottish residence, had the same system installed; adding to the royal connection, this rediscovered engine had originally been installed in the short lived “Royal Aquarium” at Waverley, before being moved to the police chambers in 1881 where it was installed for the purpose of ventilation.