BUILT HERITAGE SURVEY REPORT Site 12: Chelsea Embankment Foreshore (CHEEF)

Levels 1 and 2 Built Heritage Survey at the site of Chelsea Embankment Foreshore. A record was made of a section of the Grade II Listed Chelsea Embankment river wall, the brick boundary wall and the railings on the southern edge of the Grade II Listed Ranelagh Gardens, Sturgeon ('Dolphin') lamp standards along the section of the embankment wall affected, and the non-statutory listed outfall apron on the Chelsea foreshore. As well as this, a photographic survey of nine Plane trees affected by the Tideway project works. It has been possible to record the features of the Chelsea Embankment foreshore in as far as was possible without access to the foreshore or of the Thames. The wall and railings associated with the Grade II Listed Ranelagh Gardens were recorded and photographed in their wider environmental context as part of the heritage record. The river wall was photographed from its landside, as well as several vantage points from the surrounding area, including the Chelsea Embankment, Battersea Park, and Chelsea Bridge to allow for the general views to be recorded as part of the heritage record. These views also include the several plane trees which are due to be removed, the Grade II Listed river wall parapet, the Grade II Listed iron benches and the Grade II Listed sturgeon Lamps, of which a measured drawing has been made. The 'sturgeon' or 'dolphin' lamps dated from a year after the official opening of the embankment and as such were part of the original decoration of the survey area. Alterations to the lighting were limited with the most significant change being the conversion from gas to electric power in 1878 (though it was temporarily converted back to gas in 1884). It was also possible to record the Combined Sewer Outlet (CSO) was photo from the landside as foreshore access was not made available. The CSO and the associated apron were photographed from Chelsea Bridge and Battersea Park.