land drainage small industrial heritage museum dedicated steam powered machinery english county somerset grade listed building museum housed brick built pumping station similar pumping stations built prone flooding main attraction steam engine pump original location working order museum run charity displays number steam engines pumps steam moving exhibits provided marshall portable boiler light railway short narrow gauge railway runs length site carry wood boiler history formed submerged reclaimed landscape consist coastal clay belt slightly mean sea level inland belt lower level early attempts control water levels possibly romans records date 13th century widespread book recorded drainage higher grounds way middle ages monasteries responsible drainage efforts control flooding recorded acres km2 reclaimed near accounts rent books increased acres flooding adjacent land partially addressed 13th century construction number embankment walls contain included wall lake wall river tone diverted land owners new channel joining upstream original confluence acres km2 land acres km2 reclaimed acres land recovered near estuary years later acres near recovered means totalling acres undertaken downstream early 17th century time king james abortive plans drain local lords supported opposed lost grazing rights charles sold crown interest scheme taken consortium included sir dutch drainage engineer work delayed english civil war later defeated parliament local opposition reported nearly acres km2 reclaimed total acres km2 lowest enclosed advocated enclosure digging local drainage channels pronounced east west plots wrote acres km2 enclosed years acres km2 acres km2 acres km2 mark acres km2 acres km2 little attempt 17th 18th centuries pump water possibly coal driven steam engines unclear employed examples recorded levels mouth sea wall built common north drained following private act parliament mechanical pumping station built drain area success drainage system led formation drainage boards construction pumping stations pump originally comprised beam engine wheel like water wheel running backwards years problems pumping water away land dropped dried despite wheel raised inches better method sought present pump installed pump lifts water pronounced pump operated time local drainage system linked discharged river water levels dropped pump unable draw water additionally raised feet vicinity pumping station opening river base pump diesel pump capacity tons minute installed adjacent building meaning steam pump longer needed station flemish bond brick built property slate roof chimney rising feet height cottage section added alongside 1860s provide accommodation station keeper originally given grade listing property upgraded grade english_heritage surviving station houses functioning engine cottage long single storey building houses lancashire boiler provide steam forge keeper number tools boiler required constant running consumed good deal coal restoration members began restoration site achieved charitable status bought site owners structure engine house pump house chimney rebuilt new exhibition hall built early keeper cottage limits visitors ground floor rooms opened living room furnished 1930s style old kitchen area currently holds couple display cases view showing hitherto unseen artefacts museum collection smaller items upper floors remain closed visitors museum western end site pump house houses engine built design patented twin cylinder vertical engine driving pump developed similar engine display great exhibition shown able lift tons water minute height feet engine originally powered boilers replaced lancashire boiler fire tubes boiler economic restoration addition pump collection steam diesel engines connections area pumping assembled site regular steam days held oldest item dates early 19th century victorian engines onward 20th century housed different buildings areas exhibition hall courtyard shed pump room engine house machines running order awaiting restoration steam provided elderly marshall portable boiler essentially portable engine actual engine built stand steam generator given passed restored grant boiler provides steam pounds square inch psi exhibits fitted wales donated boiler outdoor courtyard area pump unit built lee pump deep pump engines range manufacturers display include quick revolution engines horizontal engines machine horizontal single cylinder steam engine originally brewery sea engine additional exhibits include small steam turbines small steam turbine milk bottle railway wagons near wellington built diesel engine dating pump pump steam lines collection includes boiler powered bridge light railway short narrow gauge railway running alongside pumping station constructed closure pumping station heavy machinery site transport timber wood pile boiler engines diesel locomotive built previously rail truck previously steam built truck inclined place demonstrate goods yards docks
Westonzoyland Pumping Station Museum