about the station
Dogdyke steam pumping station was built in 1856 to replace the existing wind-driven pump to drain a large area of farmland between the rivers Bain and Witham. The engine, which runs in steam on all the Open Days, is the original external condensing beam-engine built by Bradley and Craven of Wakefield. It is possibly the oldest steam-driven scoop wheel pumping set in the country that is still in steam in its original position.
In 1940, a new building was erected next to the steam pump to house a diesel driven pump to replace the steam pumping set. This is a self-contained set of equipment, consisting of a single cylinder, 23.6 litre 7XRH Ruston & Hornsby diesel engine driving a centrifugal water pump made by Gwynnes. In addition, there is a Ruston & Hornsby 1VTO small auxiliary engine, which drives an air compressor to pump up a 12 bar (200 psi) reservoir used to start the pumping engine, a suction pump to prime the water pump and a generator to power the utilities. All these items were made in Lincoln. This pumping set, although superseded by an electric pumping set at Dogdyke Marina, is still maintained by the Witham 3rd Internal Drainage Board as a stand-by set, and it also runs on Open Days.
Each Open Day, the engines will be running from1.30 to 4.30 pm. As well as the two pumping sets, there is also the old boiler to see, and a small display and museum in the old engineman’s house. Refreshments are also available. Entrance and parking are free, but donations towards the running costs are always welcome.
Links
- Stretham Enginewww.strethamoldengine.org.uk
- Kew Bridge Steam Museum www.kbsm.org
- Westonzoyland Pumping Station www.wzlet.org
- Prickwillow Engine Trust www.prickwillow-engine-museum.co.uk
- Hereford Waterworks Museum www.waterworksmuseum.org.uk
- Papplewick Pumping Station www.papplewickpumpingstation.co.uk
- International Stationary Steam Engine Society www.isses.org
- Witham Third Internal Drainage Board www.witham-3rd-idb.co.uk
- Quincey’s Pumping Station www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/venueDetails.asp?venuecode=22868
- Heritage Trust of Lincolnshire www.lincsheritage.org
- Society for Lincolnshire History & Archaeology www.lincolnshirepast.org.uk
Opening times
Open Days 2008 (1:30 to 4:30 pm)
- Sunday 23rd March
- Sunday 4th May
- Sunday 1st June
- Sunday 6th July
- Sunday 3rd August
- Sunday 7th September
- Sunday 14th September (for Heritage Open Days) Note 11:00 to 3:00 pm
- Sunday 5th October
news
Following another winter’s efforts by our hard-working band of volunteers the
station is in pristine condition and we are looking forward to welcoming
visitors during the 2008 season.
where to find us
Dogdyke Pumping Station is located near Bridge Farm, Tattershall, Lincolnshire LN4 4JG (please do not use this as a postal address). You will find us off the A153 Sleaford to Horncastle road, and the entrance is on the right, immediately after crossing Tattershall Bridge in the Horncastle direction. The site is well signposted on Open Days and is reached down a farm track.
Contact us
Dogdyke Pumping Station
Preservation Trust
Chris Lester, Hon Secretary
27 Coopers Yard
Newark
Notts
NG24 4UH
Tel: 01636 707642
Email: chris@chrislester.com
