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Until the late 1860s the River Wensum was the city's main sewer. In 1867 the city sponsored an act of Parliament by which it leased 129 acres of the Crown Point estate for 30 years. [The estate was owned by the Money Family - sold to Sir Robert John Harvey in 1861, and to Jeremiah James Colman in 1872.] Deep sewers were laid on both sides of the Wensum and a pumping station was built in Trowse which brought some improvement in form of the Whitlingham Sewage Farm. Provision was included for the construction of a new road past the site which led to the widening of the bridge over the River Yare. The original pumping station, situated south-east of the railway line, acts as an important landmark which is most apparent from the large blue brick railway bridge.

The sewage works consists of three historic buildings:

The original pumping station is red brick and built in classical style. A modern extension was added to the south but the original façade remains unaltered.

An ancillary building, designed with various early 18th century details such as the door surrounds and detailing around the windows, adjoins it. It was opened by the Lord Mayor and local historian Walter Rye on 14 July 1909. The datestone commemorating the event is still in place.

Immediately east of it is a row of six workers' terraced cottages built in Victorian Gothic style with polychromatic detailing of red and white bricks. Unfortunately many of the original windows and slate roofs have been replaced by modern materials.

A modern pumping station > Link has been built to the south-east of the complex.

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The settlement of Trowse Millgate originated at the bridging point over the River Yare, the ideal location for a mill. The character of the area underwent significant changes in the 19th century when the railway and the sewage works were built. With the onset of post war decline, the character changed again but by the late 20th century this decline was beginning to be reversed with the construction of new housing and the restoration of historic buildings.

Trowse Millgate was first designated a conservation area on 2 January 1979 and extended a couple of years later to include the former railway station and the former Pineapple public house to the north of the railway line. The area lies within the floodplain of the River Yare one mile to the south east of Norwich city centre and covers an area of 3.9 hectares.