pumping station pumping station village english county somerset pumps water power flow grade listed building pumping station built overcome water supply problems canal uses foot wide wooden water wheel drive foot long cast iron rocking beams power lift pumps raise water feet canal pumping station undergone modifications initial construction including wheel sections feet wide separated inch gap station operational life ended time maintenance repair light falling traffic canal 1960s 1970s restoration carried students replaced repaired buildings equipment returned pumping station functional state operated volunteers trust open public industrial heritage museum description cut valley feet pumping station located pump house built located river level separated canal designed built fox bristol pump house slate roof projects west pump house sides east wall doors allowing access wheel water diverted river yards upstream water flows pumping station foot wide crossed single arch bridge central water passes depressing raised lowered hand powers water wheel foot wide wheel sections feet wide feet diameter inch gap wheel wooden starts supporting float boards inches inch feet wheel vertically mounted falling water strikes blades wheels efficient wheels efficient wheels power wheel uses tons tonnes water second times minute water wheel drives flexible pit wheel diameter feet inches hand fitted wooden teeth feet inch cast iron gear increasing speed rpm drive vertical connecting rods transfer energy foot long cast iron rocking beams rocking beam drives inch diameter lift pump takes supply mill pump stroke raises imperial gallons litres water canal feet inch diameter cast iron pipe history construction idea east west link southern england mentioned times advantage proximity rivers thames miles apart closest plans shelved early 18th century opened navigation bristol bath opened called western canal proposed improve trade communication links towns wiltshire following year engineers submitted proposed route canal doubts water supply changed avoid confusion proposed time survey conducted route canal altered southerly course great proposed route accepted july suggested alterations route including construction forest april received construction began new route added locks canal making water supply problems severe way system locks work water lost upper canal time vessel passes particular issue pound bath locks series locks need opened time gates opened lock gates watertight water leaks higher levels canal lower water replaced eventually upper levels canal hold water canals usually fed water streams rivers upper parts canal suitable source available sufficient pumping station maintain water level built supply water summit pound canal opening unlike powered steam protracted negotiations water rights owners mills river bath bristol delayed construction wheel installed march delays relating obtaining specific items machinery meant pumping station open early boats prohibited bath locks periods low rainfall operation decline pumping station operated continuously providing water increasing traffic canal problems size water wheel supported end meant middle wheel putting strain stays 1840s changed stays tension rods strengthen wheel improvements pumps changes wheel unsuccessful 1850s central bearing added dividing wheel opening great western railway led significant decline canal traffic canal company lowered railway company took canal operation canal recorded deficit subsequently profit somerset coal canal supplied trade including freight somerset closed respectively minor repairs needed wheel pump wheel regular intervals later 19th early 20th centuries green oak teeth replaced times following loss previous year great western railway sought close canal obtaining resisted company charged improving maintenance canal second world war transport act meant control canal passed 1950s large sections closed poor lock maintenance following breach bank west pumping station ceased operation failure number oak teeth installed inch pump maintain statutory minimum water level restoration closure pumping station lay derelict late 1960s proposed students conduct survey report viability returning pumping station working order work started engineering students bath providing labour supervision trust providing funding building rotten replaced electric lighting installed work specialist wood metal work undertaken progress retired took restoration manager volunteers helping provide labour removed pond replaced restored oak teeth replaced pumps overhauled new rope packing february machinery working water pumped river canal pumping station formally opened installed horsepower electric pumps presented old diesel pump preservation agreed extraction imperial gallons day pumped east costs pumps pumping station maintained volunteers trust open public wednesday saturday sunday winter maintenance period opening saturdays working model pumping station restoration work received engineering heritage award
Claverton Pumping Station