The original works were designed by Joseph Quick and J. W. Restler, and initially comprised sand filter beds to remove suspended solids from the river water, and three massive engine pump houses constructed in Gault brick, with large arched windows and decorative balustrades.
[1] The site was expanded in the 1860s with additional filtration, water storage and steam driven pumping plant built.
[1] Once complete the Waterworks were among the largest in the world at the time, supplying over 400 megalitres a day and requiring over 100 tons of coal for the pumphouses.
The Hampton works is also the starting point of the Thames-Lea tunnel (1960) which transfers water to the reservoirs in the Lea Valley.
The waterworks conducts a test of its warning siren (to be used in the event of an unauthorised or accidental release of chlorine or other hazardous material) every Tuesday at approximately 9 a.m.