Crofton Pump House
Great Bedwyn, Wiltshire
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Location Guide |
 
| The oldest operational Watt style bean engine,
restored and can be seen working. Originally built in 1807-8, it lifts water from
a pond fed by a number of streams up to a level to supply the canal. Later a
reservoir known now as Wilton Water was also created here, fed from rainwater
falling on nearby hills. Built to house two engines, it originally had one, the
second being added in 1812.
With a replacement engine and some
modifications they ran by steam until the 1950's when the state of the chimney
caused it to be reduced in height by 36ft, and the reduction on height reduced
the draught and the system was no longer workable. An electric pump then took
over. Restoration later taking place and one engine being replaced with another
brought in. One engine was working again in 1970 and the other 18 months later
in 1971, the chimney problem being temporarily overcome by running an electric
fan in the chimney. By 1997 the chimney had been restored to its original full
height of 82ft.
The pumping station is in daily use today, but usually driven by electric
pumps, however on a number of days each year the boilers are stoked up and the
original beam engine comes to life. There are two beam engines each able to lift
around a ton of water on each stroke and running at around 11 strokes per
minute.
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Another pumping station on the Kennet and Avon canal is at Claverton,
 (wikipedia
), this was a water wheel driven beam engine. The waterwheel, was 24ft wide and 17ft in diameter. It has now been restored.
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Location: Crofton Pump House, Crofton, Nr
Marlborough, Wiltshire |
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Grid Reference: SU261622 |
Ceremonial County:
Wiltshire |
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Map Link:
Multimap
Multimap large scale OS
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Aerial photo:
Multimap
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Getting there: Crofton Pumping Station is 6 miles (10km) South East of Marlborough, and
6 miles (10km) South West of Hungerford.
From Marlborough, either take the A346 to Burbage, then follow the brown
'Beam Engines' signs, or proceed on the A4 towards Hungerford, then
turn right, at the brown 'Beam Engines' sign before Froxfield,
proceed into Great Bedwyn, and continue to follow the brown signs to the
Pumping Station.
From Hungerford, proceed towards Salisbury on the A338, turn right at
Shalbourne following the signs to Great Bedwyn, then follow the brown
'Beam Engines' signs to the Pumping Station.
From the Salisbury Direction, follow the signs to Hungerford on the A338,
then turn left at East Grafton, following the brown 'Beam Engines'
signs to the Pumping Station.
You can also reach it from the canal towpath. |
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Access: This site is not really suitable for
wheelchairs and when the engine is running it can be noisy and have a lot of
moving parts, so may not appeal to everyone. However if you have an interest
in engineering this is a site that you will find very interesting. |
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Website:
Own
Kennet and Avon
Trust - Crofton page
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Other Useful Websites:
Wikipedia - Crofton_Pumping_Station
Geograph
Wikipedia - Kennet_and_Avon_Canal
Wikipedia - Wilton_Water
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Email:
er23fc45@CroftonBeamEngines.org (If this does not work check their
website) |
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Address: Crofton Pumping Station, Crofton,
Marlborough, Wiltshire, |
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Postcode: SN8 3DW |
Telephone: 01672 870300 |
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Opening Times: Access is available in 2009
between April and September 27th, on all days except Wednesdays. Open
10:30am-5pm last entry at 4:30pm.
Engines in steam: 2009 -
April 11-13(Easter); May 2-4, May 23-25, June 27-28, August 1-2,
29-31, September 26-27. The two Engines run alternately with about a 50
minute run and 10 minute break until the next. A schedule is on their website
with a pop-up link from
this page
Steam Gala 27th and 28th September. |
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Charges: When in steam - Adults £7.00, Seniors
£6.00, Child £2.50, Families (2+2) £16.00.
Other times (not in steam) Adults £4.50, Seniors £4.00, Child
£2.50, Families (2+ 2) £11.00.
Under 5's in each case are free.
Kennet and Avon Canal Trust Members FREE.
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Nearby Locations:
Wilton Windmill
Devizes
Locks
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Other Location Pages: |
Other Relevant Pages:
Canals
Canals for
photographers
Major
Canals and
Waterways
Major
Canal Features
Canal Tunnels
Lock Flights and
Staircases
Canals in England
Non Navigable and Lost Canals
Further information - canals
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Notes: |
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