Report - Pumphouse, Apethorpe, Northants, June 2020

[HughieD]

1. The History
Done quite an extensive bit of digging and can find nothing about this place at all. All that I do know is this little pump house is well hidden away in a wood just outside Apethorpe in Northants on the banks of Willow Brook and the only other picture I could find on the net was one by @Bikin Glynn

2. The Explore
So big up to @Bikin Glynn . Would never have known about it otherwise. Wouldn’t normally do a report on such a small place but this was a little gem. Idyllically located, lots of decay and lots of the the original pump workings left inside. I certainly added to the nettle stings I accumulated earlier in the day at RAF Woolfox. But yes, what an enchanting little place. I took more pictures here than I have at places 50 times this bijou place’s size.

3. The Pictures

Hey little pumphouse!

The roof has long gone:

Wow!

Wish I knew what all these things were:

Is this some sort on engine to drive the cam belt?

This is the marble fuse board I think:

Some serious cog-age:

And that cam belt again:

A Hayward-Tyler turbo pump?

An old table and water tank:

OK – think that’s enough of this cute little place for now!

 

[MarkusCP87]

Loving the decay in this one, awesome pics mate

 

[HughieD]

Loving the decay in this one, awesome pics mate

Cheers mate. Much appreciated.

 

[tigger]

A lovely remnant of the distributed local water supply from the period immediately before 'mains' water reached the area.
That belt isn't a 'cam belt' it's a drive belt. You can see a rather nice camshaft on your fifth photo which shows one of the three cylinder water pumps.
The pumps were probably powered via the lineshafting and engine before conversion to the electrical motors.

 

[tarkovsky]

Nice!

 

[HughieD]

A lovely remnant of the distributed local water supply from the period immediately before 'mains' water reached the area.
That belt isn't a 'cam belt' it's a drive belt. You can see a rather nice camshaft on your fifth photo which shows one of the three cylinder water pumps.
The pumps were probably powered via the lineshafting and engine before conversion to the electrical motors.

Cheers for the info @tigger That is really interesting and all makes sense that.

 

[Calamity Jane]

Nice little gem.

 

[mingerocket]

Nice, love anything to do with waterworks. I will have to try and find this place.
The pumps look similar to the ones in the turbine driven pump house near alton

 

[Speed]

Looks like it was originally powered by the water cooled diesel engine via the line shafts. Later replaced by electric motors. Somthing like that anyway!

 

[Carl Hargreaves]

That diesel engine is a Blackstone model OP. Horizontal diesel engine. if you care to google it. I'm only really here for the engine porn! I have saved a few large engines from pumping stations, Mills, and a boot and shoe factory to name a few.

 

[Bikin Glynn]

Nicely done mate, the roof has all but gone now by the looks of it!

 

[ikkdjct]

Great pictures

 

[C@p]

That diesel engine is a Blackstone model OP. Horizontal diesel engine. if you care to google it. I'm only really here for the engine porn! I have saved a few large engines from pumping stations, Mills, and a boot and shoe factory to name a few.

That's a fine collection you have. I've been to the anson museum a few times, hopefully next year you'll be able to do an open day

 

[Carl Hargreaves]

hi there,
I went to Anson museum many times as a kid I knew old Les Crawley who started it off, I remember Geoff Chanillor, who is in charge now as a young man.
All them visits were the inspiration to set our place out to what you see.
Geoff came to an open day a few yrs ago.
Thanks