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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,
Steaming Days - Shop & Cafe, car parking opposite the main gates.
Static Sundays - Onsite parking. Light refreshments maybe available in the café
Miniature Steam train rides behind ‘Percy’, around the gardens on steaming weekends
Model boats & yachts sailing on the cooling pond 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 Beam Engines are "In Steam" on Bank Holiday weekends. See ‘Dates & Times’
For other information see www.papplewickpumpingstation.org.uk
or contact the station. Tel 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
Private conducted tours
The Pumping Station may be opened for private conducted tours,
arrangements can be made for most days of the week, daytime or evenings.
Civil Wedding Ceremonies
The station has a licence for the use of the site for Civil Wedding ceremonies, but not receptions.
Weddings can place in the Pumping Engine Station or rooms in the Superintendents House. .
Meeting Room Hire
The Superintendents Meeting Room is available for hire, as a self contained venue for
small groups and meetings, up to about 10 people. Level access, kitchen and toilets.
Link to photograph of the room.
Please contact the station for further details. Tel: 0115 963 2938
This web site is registered to M P Melbourne and is run for and on behalf of Papplewick Pumping Station Association,
Details & photographs on this site are Copyright © 1999-2009, Papplewick Association, All rights reserved.
Revised: 5 May 2009
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