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This is Britain's finest Victorian Water Works and the only one in the Midlands to be preserved as a complete working water pumping station. Papplewick Pumping Station was built between 1882 - 1884 to supplement the water supply for the growing city of Nottingham.
In the main building there are two massive beam pumping engines, thought to be the last built by the famous firm of James Watt & Co. of Soho Works, Birmingham and London.
These two 140hp. Engines lifted water from the 200 foot deep well, dug into the sandstone subground and pumped the water into the reservoir that supplied Nottingham.
These beams engines worked for 85 years and ceased regular operation in 1969, when electric pumps were fitted in the pilot well near the main gate. These automatic electric pumps saved the manpower required to stoke three of the 6 Lancashire boilers that feed steam to the two beam engines.
After the preservation group took over the upkeep of the station in 1974 and by 1975 Papplewick was opened to allow the public to view this fine water works, along with a growing number of other steam powered engines that have come from other local sites. These include the Linby Colliery Winding Engine and the Stanton Triple Expansion Engine.
Other Waterworks in the Nottinghamshire area only survive as preserved buildings without any of the original steam powered pumping equipment.
Landscaped Park Setting, Picnic Area, car parking opposite the main gates (steaming days only, Static Sundays - onsite parking). Shop & Refreshments Café (only on steaming days)
Miniature Steam train rides behind Percy, around the gardens on steaming weekends
Model boats, yachts and steam boats are sailed on the cooling pond on most Sundays by Association members.
A local wood turner shows his work on steaming weekends.
The station is open for viewing on Sunday afternoons and the engines are "In Steam" on Bank Holiday weekends. See ‘Dates & Times’
For other information see www.papplewickpumpingstation.org.uk
or contact the Manager on 0115 963 2938.
Click here for printable description of directions of how to find us, If you have not been before,
YOU WILL NEED THIS
"The Brick Award"
Papplewick Pumping Station has been crowned "Best Refurbishment Project" at this year's prestigious Brick Development Association (BDA) Awards.
The Victorian building has been restored to its former glory by architects Cullen Carter Hill and was named as the winner at a gala evening at the Grosvenor Square Hotel in London, November 2006.
Restoration of the buildings was guided by the architect, Liam Doherty The brickwork contractor was Historic Conservation.
New bricks and terracotta pilasters and mouldings that need replacing, specially made to match the original, were produced by Ibstock Brick Limited, Leicester. The brick type used was "Leicester Tapped Red Smooth"
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