Page good for smart-phones. On PCs/Laptops it may look too large. To reduce press "Ctrl" & "minus" or click "View" then "Zoom out"
Created Sep 2025, last edited:
29/03/26, 23:03
Introduction
March 2026 Page Upgrade
This page is under reconstruction following HTML and CSS code upgrades and changes from 2 or 3 columns to one responsive phone-friendly display.
Inevitability, some images or text may be out of order or temporarily missing. Additionally, much more to be added.
This pumping station is situated at Engine Bank, Mepal, to the west of the
Washes (the opposite side to the village of Mepal) on the west side of the Counter Drain into which it discharges.
It is owned and operated by the Sutton & Mepal Internal Drainage Board (S&M IDB).
The drainage district was formed by Act of Parliament in 1749 covering approx 9,000
acres of fen west of the Washes, increased to 10,348 by 18404..
The 2012 IDB plan shows the rateable area is now 4680 hectares, some 11,565 acres,
and the Board also has to drain some additional "highland" catchment areas on its
north-west and southern borders.
For nearly 100 years it was drained by wind-powered scoopwheels
(usually called windmills or wind pumps).
Below is a general view of the site in 2011 seen from the inlet side. Photo: Peter Cox, May 2011
Above, left to right: the small brick building is the 1990 electric pump
control room;
three discharge pipes from the submerged electric pumps; weed grab above cart; pipe
from IDBs northern drain discharging into the main drain; pumping station cottage (1970); weedscreen below trailer; the 1927-28 diesel engine
house; the 1840 steam engine building; and workshop, previously boiler house?
And this is how it looks from the east side of the Counterdrain Photo: Peter Cox, May 2011
Scroll down to follow the story or choose a section to jump to from the drop-down menu.
Stand-by/
supplementary since 1990.
Use Dec 2012-Jan 2013 after v heavy rains
19903-now
3 x Flygt
electric
submersible
tot
3.0
11,565
Automatic operation. Small
brick control building. New intake. Three new discharge pipes with syphon valves.
1
Bold text indicates equipment still operational.
Early diesel engines were known as "oil"engines.
ref
source
1
David Stimson, Sutton & Mepal IDB District Officer
2
David J Sanders: Draining the Fen with particular
reference to the parish of Mepal, 1998
3
KSG Hinde: Fenland Pumping Engines
4
Richard L Hills: Machines Mills & Uncountable
Costly Necessities, 1967
5
Chris Allen, Stationery Engine Research Group (SERG)
6
Acts of Parliament of 1748-9, 1777 and 1806 (copies
in the collection of Peter Cox)
Steam Power
The IDB's records show the steam plant was built in 1840
although many people think it was 1810 because the date on the wall plaque between the
two windows of the tall engine house has weathered. Click photo to see the
correct year. Photo: Peter Cox, May 2011
An 80hp
Butterley steam beam-engine designed by Joseph Glynn was installed driving a
scoopwheel 34ft in diameter &
4ft wide, said to discharge 120 tons per minute (tpm). It drained 10,500 acres and replaced
six wind pumps.
Photos: Peter Cox. Left, Feb 2013; right, May 2011
The left-hand photo above shows the tall engine house in 2013, externally much as it was
in 1840. The boiler house was on the left of the engine house; the photo
clearly shows that the roof and front wall have been raised, an old doorway
bricked up and new metal doors fitted; it is now a workshop.
The scoopwheel house (right) was on the other side of the engine house but was demolished c1927 to make room for the diesel engine house.
The black area on the right-hand photo marks its position.
The discharge point can still be seen, albeit bricked up, below the level
portion of wooden fencing.
Diesel
In 1925 the District Commissioners decided to replace the steam station with a diesel-fuel driven one.
In August that year they considered ten tenders, choosing the two lowest, from Vickers-Petters
(V-P) for a 2-stroke engine,
and from Blackstone for a 4-stroke, to be put to the Unemployment Grants Committee who would subsidise the cost.
There was much discussion about the relative merits of 2-stroke and 4-stroke engines, with the V-P
eventually winning by 12
votes to 8. (I am indebted to David J Sanders for much of this information2.)
A new brick building to house the new plant was erected, joined to the steam-engine house after the scoop
wheel house was demolished. Other equipment included two vertical sluice
valves to control discharge and pump primers. Photo: Peter Cox, May 2011
Date of construction above window Photo: Peter Cox, May 2011
The Commissioner's borrowing power was increased to £15,000 under The Sutton
and Mepal Drainage Order 1926, presumably to help pay for the works, and
further increased to a total of £21,000 by an order of 1929.
Vickers-Petters engines
Two 4-cyl vertical 2-stroke diesel engines rated at 250hp were installed in 1927, each driving a 42inch Gwynnes centrifugal pump discharging 150 tpm3.
These engines used the "hot-bulb" method of ignition, which involved starting with compressed-air driven paraffin blow lamps fitted at the top of each cylinder.
Photos below are of a working 2-cyl engine rated at about 170hp displayed at Prickwillow Museum. Photos: Peter Cox, taken at Prickwillow Museum, Oct 2013, Olympus E-620
On right, starting with the blow lamp is a spectacular sight, always attracts visitors. Link to museum via menu.
Hinde says they were unreliable. One apparently one blew up in 1939 and this time just two tenders were received, from Brush (for a secondhand machine), and from Allen & Sons; the Brush was slightly cheaper and was accepted. The other Vickers-Petters remained until 1949 when it was replaced with a Ruston & Hornsby.
Brush engine
This was a 4-cyl horizontally opposed 4-stroke diesel, model 4M13, originally rated at 380bhp at 333rpm, but reduced to 250bhp at 250rpm to be compatible to the existing 1927 Gynnes pump which it drove3.
It was built in 1935 and first installed in a mill before being moved here in 19391. This engine, like the majority of large diesels of the period, was started using
compressed air at 300 pounds per sq.inch (psi) to turn the engine over, and an air-compressor and air receiver were needed. Photos: Peter Cox. Left Feb 2013; right, Jan 2013
Left, front view of Brush; Right, rear of Brush, drive belts under wire guard, and the pump
Ruston and Hornsby engine
In 1949 a 5cyl vertical diesel type 5VEB, rated at 300 bhp at 500rpm, was installed in the old steam house and connected to the other 1927 Gwynnes 42-inch centrifugal pump by 20 V belts.
Photos: Peter Cox. Left Feb 2013; right, Jan 2013
Left, side view of engine, exhaust pipe above; Right, long view of engine with wire-covered V-belt drive to pump
Photos: Peter Cox,Left Feb 2013; right, Jan 2013
Left, the 1927 pump and controls
When I visted in early 2013 at a time of severe flooding, the 64-year old engine and the 86-year old pump ran throughout the day for a couple of weeks while the station manager was on duty. When he clocked-off, he turned the electric pumps on to run through the night. The old plant was used during the day because diesel was much cheaper than electricity but required attendance whereas the electric plant was fully automatic.
Electric
The station was converted to electric power in 1990 with new inlet and outlet points and three new auto-controlled submersible pumps with a total capacity of 3.00 m3/sec, and an automatic weed grab. Photo: Peter Cox, May 2012
Wall plaque on electric pump-house Photo: Peter Cox, May 2011
Irrigation Slacker
Manager's home
In the days of steam, the plant manager would have been called the "Engine Driver" and he and his family would have been housed on-site so he could stoke the boilers and manually operate engine and scoop wheel whenever needed, day or night.
That house would have been built in 1840; I've no records of it, but .......
A painting inside the station shows a residential house next to the 1927 diesel plant house which I think could be the 1840 house. It has the look of so many fen houses of that time (including my home) and the same slate coloured roof as the steam house, quite different to the that of the diesel house.
I assume the current bungalow replaced the house in 1990 when the electric plant was built. I believe the IDB sold it c2024, probably after the long-serving manager David Simpson retired. Photos: Peter Cox, Oct 2013, Olympus E-620
Management
Sutton & Mepal IDB - Board Members as at March 2013. Revised details to follow
Name
From
in
To
Position
representing
Allan, A
2011
Allpress, P
2011
Angood, RJ
2011
Deamer, J
2011
Heading HJ
2011
Lack IR
2011
Huntingdon DC
Latta, M
2011
Lee, C
2011
Lee, RJ
2011
Pearson, RC
2011
Robinson, PB
2011
Scott, T
2011
Smith, RH
2011
Sole, JO
2011
Sole, P
2011
Veal, EF
2011
Wilkinson, AS
2011
Chairman 2011
District Officer
Long-serving David Simson retired around 2024 (?) New details to follow
Mepal (Fortrey's Hall) Pumping Station
Created Sep 2025, last edited: 29/03/26, 23:03
Introduction
Inevitability, some images or text may be out of order or temporarily missing. Additionally, much more to be added.
It is owned and operated by the Sutton & Mepal Internal Drainage Board (S&M IDB). The drainage district was formed by Act of Parliament in 1749 covering approx 9,000 acres of fen west of the Washes, increased to 10,348 by 18404.. The 2012 IDB plan shows the rateable area is now 4680 hectares, some 11,565 acres, and the Board also has to drain some additional "highland" catchment areas on its north-west and southern borders.
For nearly 100 years it was drained by wind-powered scoopwheels (usually called windmills or wind pumps).
Below is a general view of the site in 2011 seen from the inlet side.
Photo: Peter Cox, May 2011
Above, left to right: the small brick building is the 1990 electric pump control room; three discharge pipes from the submerged electric pumps; weed grab above cart; pipe from IDBs northern drain discharging into the main drain; pumping station cottage (1970); weedscreen below trailer; the 1927-28 diesel engine house; the 1840 steam engine building; and workshop, previously boiler house?
And this is how it looks from the east side of the Counterdrain
Photo: Peter Cox, May 2011
Scroll down to follow the story or choose a section to jump to from the drop-down menu.
Potted history
drained
steam beam
32ft2,4 or 34ft3 diam, 4ft wide
4-cyl vertical
2-stroke hot-bulb diesel
42" centrifugal
4-cyl vertical
2-stroke hot-bulb Diesel
4-cyl horizontal opposed diesel
at 250 rpm
5VEBX (no 282122)
5 cyl vertical
4 stroke diesel
at 500 rpm
Use Dec 2012-Jan 2013 after v heavy rains
electric
submersible
3.0
Early diesel engines were known as "oil"engines.
Steam Power
The IDB's records show the steam plant was built in 1840 although many people think it was 1810 because the date on the wall plaque between the two windows of the tall engine house has weathered. Click photo to see the correct year.Photo: Peter Cox, May 2011
An 80hp Butterley steam beam-engine designed by Joseph Glynn was installed driving a scoopwheel 34ft in diameter & 4ft wide, said to discharge 120 tons per minute (tpm). It drained 10,500 acres and replaced six wind pumps.
Photos: Peter Cox. Left, Feb 2013; right, May 2011
The left-hand photo above shows the tall engine house in 2013, externally much as it was in 1840. The boiler house was on the left of the engine house; the photo clearly shows that the roof and front wall have been raised, an old doorway bricked up and new metal doors fitted; it is now a workshop.
The scoopwheel house (right) was on the other side of the engine house but was demolished c1927 to make room for the diesel engine house. The black area on the right-hand photo marks its position.
The discharge point can still be seen, albeit bricked up, below the level portion of wooden fencing.
Diesel
In 1925 the District Commissioners decided to replace the steam station with a diesel-fuel driven one. In August that year they considered ten tenders, choosing the two lowest, from Vickers-Petters (V-P) for a 2-stroke engine, and from Blackstone for a 4-stroke, to be put to the Unemployment Grants Committee who would subsidise the cost. There was much discussion about the relative merits of 2-stroke and 4-stroke engines, with the V-P eventually winning by 12 votes to 8.(I am indebted to David J Sanders for much of this information2.)
A new brick building to house the new plant was erected, joined to the steam-engine house after the scoop wheel house was demolished. Other equipment included two vertical sluice valves to control discharge and pump primers.
Date of construction above window
Photo: Peter Cox, May 2011
The Commissioner's borrowing power was increased to £15,000 under The Sutton and Mepal Drainage Order 1926, presumably to help pay for the works, and further increased to a total of £21,000 by an order of 1929.
Vickers-Petters engines
Two 4-cyl vertical 2-stroke diesel engines rated at 250hp were installed in 1927, each driving a 42inch Gwynnes centrifugal pump discharging 150 tpm3.These engines used the "hot-bulb" method of ignition, which involved starting with compressed-air driven paraffin blow lamps fitted at the top of each cylinder.
Photos below are of a working 2-cyl engine rated at about 170hp displayed at Prickwillow Museum.
Photos: Peter Cox, taken at Prickwillow Museum, Oct 2013, Olympus E-620
On right, starting with the blow lamp is a spectacular sight, always attracts visitors. Link to museum via menu.
Hinde says they were unreliable. One apparently one blew up in 1939 and this time just two tenders were received, from Brush (for a secondhand machine), and from Allen & Sons; the Brush was slightly cheaper and was accepted. The other Vickers-Petters remained until 1949 when it was replaced with a Ruston & Hornsby.
Brush engine
This was a 4-cyl horizontally opposed 4-stroke diesel, model 4M13, originally rated at 380bhp at 333rpm, but reduced to 250bhp at 250rpm to be compatible to the existing 1927 Gynnes pump which it drove3.It was built in 1935 and first installed in a mill before being moved here in 19391. This engine, like the majority of large diesels of the period, was started using compressed air at 300 pounds per sq.inch (psi) to turn the engine over, and an air-compressor and air receiver were needed.
Left, front view of Brush; Right, rear of Brush, drive belts under wire guard, and the pump
Ruston and Hornsby engine
In 1949 a 5cyl vertical diesel type 5VEB, rated at 300 bhp at 500rpm, was installed in the old steam house and connected to the other 1927 Gwynnes 42-inch centrifugal pump by 20 V belts.Left, side view of engine, exhaust pipe above; Right, long view of engine with wire-covered V-belt drive to pump
Left, the 1927 pump and controls
When I visted in early 2013 at a time of severe flooding, the 64-year old engine and the 86-year old pump ran throughout the day for a couple of weeks while the station manager was on duty. When he clocked-off, he turned the electric pumps on to run through the night. The old plant was used during the day because diesel was much cheaper than electricity but required attendance whereas the electric plant was fully automatic.
Electric
The station was converted to electric power in 1990 with new inlet and outlet points and three new auto-controlled submersible pumps with a total capacity of 3.00 m3/sec, and an automatic weed grab.Photo: Peter Cox, May 2011
Irrigation Slacker
Manager's home
In the days of steam, the plant manager would have been called the "Engine Driver" and he and his family would have been housed on-site so he could stoke the boilers and manually operate engine and scoop wheel whenever needed, day or night.That house would have been built in 1840; I've no records of it, but .......
A painting inside the station shows a residential house next to the 1927 diesel plant house which I think could be the 1840 house. It has the look of so many fen houses of that time (including my home) and the same slate coloured roof as the steam house, quite different to the that of the diesel house.
I assume the current bungalow replaced the house in 1990 when the electric plant was built. I believe the IDB sold it c2024, probably after the long-serving manager David Simpson retired.
Photos: Peter Cox, Oct 2013, Olympus E-620
Management
Sutton & Mepal IDB - Board Members as at March 2013.
Revised details to follow
District Officer
Long-serving David Simson retired around 2024 (?) New details to followIf you think there are any errors or ommissions on this page or would like to comment, please e-mail me and your response will be added.