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Created Apr 2011, last edited:
03/04/26, 22:04
Introduction
Front view from river bank. Photo: Peter Cox, April 2011
This old pumping station is situated where a track named Old Mill Drove joins the
unclassified road running alongside the Counterdrain/Old Bedford River, about 350
yards north of the EA's Welches Dam Pumping Station.
It drains or drained fenland to the west into the CD/OBR. It is constructed of
timber boards with a corrugated tin roof and appears to be long disused. Oddly, it
is shown on the Manea & Welney DDC's area plan of 2011 where it is named Welches Dam PS; yet their
policy statement refers to only two pumping stations, presumably Glen House (Colony) and Purls
Bridge.
Scroll down to follow the story or choose a section to jump to from the drop-down menu.
KSG Hinde, in his 2006 book Fenland Pumping Engines, p54, names it Purls
Bridge PS, and says it
probably dates to the 1920s when a diesel engine and pump seems to have replaced the
windpump shown here on 1st edition OS maps. He thinks probably operational to about
1975 based on RS Searle's 1975
book Soils of the Ely District.
The inlet side Photo: Peter Cox, April 2011
Old Mill Drove Pumping Station
Created Apr 2011, last edited: 03/04/26, 22:04
Introduction
Front view from river bank.
Photo: Peter Cox, April 2011
This old pumping station is situated where a track named Old Mill Drove joins the unclassified road running alongside the Counterdrain/Old Bedford River, about 350 yards north of the EA's Welches Dam Pumping Station.
It drains or drained fenland to the west into the CD/OBR. It is constructed of timber boards with a corrugated tin roof and appears to be long disused. Oddly, it is shown on the Manea & Welney DDC's area plan of 2011 where it is named Welches Dam PS; yet their policy statement refers to only two pumping stations, presumably Glen House (Colony) and Purls Bridge.
Scroll down to follow the story or choose a section to jump to from the drop-down menu.
KSG Hinde, in his 2006 book Fenland Pumping Engines, p54, names it Purls Bridge PS, and says it probably dates to the 1920s when a diesel engine and pump seems to have replaced the windpump shown here on 1st edition OS maps. He thinks probably operational to about 1975 based on RS Searle's 1975 book Soils of the Ely District.
The inlet side
Photo: Peter Cox, April 2011