Introduction
@JakeV50 and I have explored numerous pumping stations and water infrastructure sites over the last couple of years, searching for interesting finds. While many are undocumented, they’re often not the most exciting locations due to their size.
Some visits were unsuccessful, others were outstanding and received full reports. This roundup features sites that weren’t completely terrible but didn’t merit individual reports. Instead of leaving them unseen stored on my computer or spamming the General Photo Thread, I thought I would make a round-up post and compile them here.
Information
General Information & History
Pumping stations come in various shapes and sizes, serving different purposes. They are often used to move water from a source, such as a spring or river, to a building. In the past, these were more common when the mains water system was still in development in areas around the UK. While some rural areas still rely on pumping stations, many have been decommissioned due to advancements in infrastructure.
However, even with a modern mains system, pumping stations remain essential for maintaining water pressure and efficiency. In addition to water supply, they also play a crucial role in wastewater management, helping move sewage and drainage water to treatment works.
Over the years, many pumping stations have fallen into disuse. Some remain in great condition, with original machinery intact, while others have been stripped, vandalised, or reclaimed by nature. Their architectural styles vary widely, from grand Victorian-era brick structures to basic pre-fab utilitarian buildings.
The sites have been compiled below in no particular order, I have excluded a few examples from the Fens as I plan to post a round-up report of those separately in the future.
Unnamed Pumping Station, Teanford, Staffordshire - October 2024
This was an accidental find, we were trying to gain access to another site nearby, but unfortunately, we were unable to access it due to people working on a field near the bridge we had to go across. Whilst looking for alternative routes, we found this little building by the river. It contains an English Electric industrial motor rated at 50hp to power a pump which pumped water from the river beside it.
Broad Oak Pump House, Kent - July 2024
Situated near a public footpath, this pump house has been heavily vandalised, but some equipment does remain inside. It was presumably built around the same time as the man-made reservoir nearby. It contains a 3-cylinder Lister Diesel Engine. These 3-cylinder Listers were popular for these pumping installations, as I have seen many of these. I could not quite figure out the engraved logos on the pump/pipes, so not sure on the pump type.
Stevens/Priory Farm Pump House, Somerset - October 2024
Appearing on old OS Maps as a pump house beside the now-demolished Maiden Bradley Mill, I would assume this pump house served the nearby Stevens Farm (stated as Priory Farm on 1900s OS Maps). Little remains of this pump house, there are two buildings. The smaller one was inaccessible. The larger one was fairly empty and split into two sections, one with a waterfall outlet and the other with the old concrete base for an engine/pump setup. The building was quite nice though, with a chimney and some stained glass windows.
River Esk/HM Factory Pumping Station, Cumbria - April 2024
Fully stripped, sealed, and now used for farm storage, this large pumping station was built by the RIver Esk during World War I to provide water for the H.M. Factory. The factory was Britain’s largest cordite factory during the First World War and stretched 9 miles from Mossband to Dornock on the Scottish-England border. It required its own independent transport network, power source and water supply system. The pumping station could extract up to 5 million gallons of water per day via three high-powered electric pumps.
Pump House Nr Crooks Lodge, Scottish Borders - April 2024
One of Jake’s finds, a small pump house hidden in the trees. The site originally housed a wind pump and was later upgraded to this setup, which features a large pump setup manufactured by Joseph Evans & Sons of Wolverhampton. The engine driving the pump has since been removed.
Charterhall Sawmill Pumping Equipment, Scottish Borders - April 2024
Situated near Blackadder Water north of RAF Charterhall, this pumping equipment extracted water from the river uphill to the Sawmill via a pump and petrol/paraffin stationary engine setup.
St. Mary’s Chantry Chapel/Pump House, Etal, Northumberland - April 2024
This one was unusual, it was originally the site of a chapel which was constructed in 1345. The site was later converted into a Pumping Station which fed the village of Etal with water. The water was pumped from a nearby well. The site still shows the original foundation stones and a stone cross which was placed in the 19th Century. Unfortunately, other than some pipework no equipment remains inside.
Fingerburn Pump House & Ram Pump, Northumberland - April 2024
A small find next to the River Till on the edge of Fingerburn plantation. The building itself did contain some dilapidated pumping equipment but I lost my photo (or forgot to take it). However, I did get an external shot and also a photo of the sunken ram pump in an enclosure between the pump house and the river.
Field Pump House & Cistern Nr Jedburgh, Scottish Borders - April 2024
Another one I know absolutely nothing about. This was a find on a modern OS Maps layer. I would assume this one was for agricultural use being on the edge of a field up a hill and a fair distance away from any farm or residence. It contains a pump which looks like it may have extracted water from the ground and transported it to a Cistern next to it for the storage of water.
Note the sunken Cistern to the left of the pumping building in the below image.
Bagnall Waterwheel, Staffordshire - January 2024
This nice little waterwheel resides alongside a small stream close to a spring contained within a small brick hut. A find kindly sent to me by @mingerocket.
Thanks for looking.
@JakeV50 and I have explored numerous pumping stations and water infrastructure sites over the last couple of years, searching for interesting finds. While many are undocumented, they’re often not the most exciting locations due to their size.
Some visits were unsuccessful, others were outstanding and received full reports. This roundup features sites that weren’t completely terrible but didn’t merit individual reports. Instead of leaving them unseen stored on my computer or spamming the General Photo Thread, I thought I would make a round-up post and compile them here.
Information
General Information & History
Pumping stations come in various shapes and sizes, serving different purposes. They are often used to move water from a source, such as a spring or river, to a building. In the past, these were more common when the mains water system was still in development in areas around the UK. While some rural areas still rely on pumping stations, many have been decommissioned due to advancements in infrastructure.
However, even with a modern mains system, pumping stations remain essential for maintaining water pressure and efficiency. In addition to water supply, they also play a crucial role in wastewater management, helping move sewage and drainage water to treatment works.
Over the years, many pumping stations have fallen into disuse. Some remain in great condition, with original machinery intact, while others have been stripped, vandalised, or reclaimed by nature. Their architectural styles vary widely, from grand Victorian-era brick structures to basic pre-fab utilitarian buildings.
The sites have been compiled below in no particular order, I have excluded a few examples from the Fens as I plan to post a round-up report of those separately in the future.
Unnamed Pumping Station, Teanford, Staffordshire - October 2024
This was an accidental find, we were trying to gain access to another site nearby, but unfortunately, we were unable to access it due to people working on a field near the bridge we had to go across. Whilst looking for alternative routes, we found this little building by the river. It contains an English Electric industrial motor rated at 50hp to power a pump which pumped water from the river beside it.
Broad Oak Pump House, Kent - July 2024
Situated near a public footpath, this pump house has been heavily vandalised, but some equipment does remain inside. It was presumably built around the same time as the man-made reservoir nearby. It contains a 3-cylinder Lister Diesel Engine. These 3-cylinder Listers were popular for these pumping installations, as I have seen many of these. I could not quite figure out the engraved logos on the pump/pipes, so not sure on the pump type.
Stevens/Priory Farm Pump House, Somerset - October 2024
Appearing on old OS Maps as a pump house beside the now-demolished Maiden Bradley Mill, I would assume this pump house served the nearby Stevens Farm (stated as Priory Farm on 1900s OS Maps). Little remains of this pump house, there are two buildings. The smaller one was inaccessible. The larger one was fairly empty and split into two sections, one with a waterfall outlet and the other with the old concrete base for an engine/pump setup. The building was quite nice though, with a chimney and some stained glass windows.
River Esk/HM Factory Pumping Station, Cumbria - April 2024
Fully stripped, sealed, and now used for farm storage, this large pumping station was built by the RIver Esk during World War I to provide water for the H.M. Factory. The factory was Britain’s largest cordite factory during the First World War and stretched 9 miles from Mossband to Dornock on the Scottish-England border. It required its own independent transport network, power source and water supply system. The pumping station could extract up to 5 million gallons of water per day via three high-powered electric pumps.
Pump House Nr Crooks Lodge, Scottish Borders - April 2024
One of Jake’s finds, a small pump house hidden in the trees. The site originally housed a wind pump and was later upgraded to this setup, which features a large pump setup manufactured by Joseph Evans & Sons of Wolverhampton. The engine driving the pump has since been removed.
Charterhall Sawmill Pumping Equipment, Scottish Borders - April 2024
Situated near Blackadder Water north of RAF Charterhall, this pumping equipment extracted water from the river uphill to the Sawmill via a pump and petrol/paraffin stationary engine setup.
St. Mary’s Chantry Chapel/Pump House, Etal, Northumberland - April 2024
This one was unusual, it was originally the site of a chapel which was constructed in 1345. The site was later converted into a Pumping Station which fed the village of Etal with water. The water was pumped from a nearby well. The site still shows the original foundation stones and a stone cross which was placed in the 19th Century. Unfortunately, other than some pipework no equipment remains inside.
Fingerburn Pump House & Ram Pump, Northumberland - April 2024
A small find next to the River Till on the edge of Fingerburn plantation. The building itself did contain some dilapidated pumping equipment but I lost my photo (or forgot to take it). However, I did get an external shot and also a photo of the sunken ram pump in an enclosure between the pump house and the river.
Field Pump House & Cistern Nr Jedburgh, Scottish Borders - April 2024
Another one I know absolutely nothing about. This was a find on a modern OS Maps layer. I would assume this one was for agricultural use being on the edge of a field up a hill and a fair distance away from any farm or residence. It contains a pump which looks like it may have extracted water from the ground and transported it to a Cistern next to it for the storage of water.
Note the sunken Cistern to the left of the pumping building in the below image.
Bagnall Waterwheel, Staffordshire - January 2024
This nice little waterwheel resides alongside a small stream close to a spring contained within a small brick hut. A find kindly sent to me by @mingerocket.
Thanks for looking.
the river esk one looks a serious building
cheers, yeah I was pleased with how it turned out in this format to be honest
