Pumping Stations in the
South Level

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    South Level Pumping Stations
    Lark Engine PS
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  • Copywright & acknowledgements
      Text and photos except where noted © Eddy Edwards 2010-13. Please do not use my material without permission.
      Steam and oil plant data largely from KSG Hinde's book Fenland Pumping Engines.
      IDB details from the Ely Group and Downham Mkt Group websites.
      Some new works details from Hannah-Reed.
  • Can you correct or add anything?
      Your help would be appreciated, please e-mail me (Eddy) Your response will be added unless you ask otherwise.

Prickwillow Pumping Station

INCOMPLETE DRAFT, Revision 1

Introduction

There have been three steam engines here, followed by a diesel, and then electric.
c1900 from Cambs Coll Photo: Cambs Collection
The two steam engine houses seen from the River Lark c1900. In the centre of the photo is the 1880 engine/boiler house with its scoopwheel house on the right. The long and lower house to the right of that is the original 1832 house.
 c1900 from Cambs Coll
Photo: Prickwillow Drainage Engine Museum guidebook 2010
The two houses seen from the rear, the intake side, seen from the bank of the IDB's drain.

c1900 from Cambs Coll Photo:

c1900 from Cambs Coll
Photo:
The old steam and diesel station buildings became the Prickwillow Engine Museum in 1983, seen here 2012.


  On the left is the 1880 house, which held a 60 hp Easton & Anderson steam engine and two Lancashire boilers until 1924 when a Mirrlees diesel engine replaced it. The Mirrlees is in its original position and still regularly run. The Allen pump is also in situ but no longer connected to the engine. In the centre, the glass fronted building contains the museum reception area, cafeteria, toilets, video room and viewing platforms. The brick buildings beyond were the original 1832 buildings minus the lean-to coal-store seen in the photo above on the front of the very far part. These were demolished in 2013 and replaced by a new extension to the museum to hold another engine exhibit plus meeting rooms. The reddish-brown looking building at the very far right was the Station Manager's house, now privately occupied.
 

Potted history

period  fuel engine rating hp pump tpm m3/s head acres
drn'd		 discharge/remarks/other ref
                     
1831-1880
  steam Butterley marine
side-lever		 60
at
6psi		 scoopwheel
33½ft diam; 40 scoops, 2'1"wide		 70     7,000 stand-by 1880-1897 scrapped 1897 to make way for an Allen steam engine & pump 2
1880  steam Eastons & Anderson
compound condensing beam		 60
at 65psi		 vertical spindle
churn pump		 95
65		   8ft
15ft		   installed in new building next to the 1831 house with 2 Lancashire boilers
Discharge pipe 4½ft diam 68ft long.
All removed 1924		 2
1897 steam Allen vertical compound double- acting 300
at 75psi		 Allen Conqueror 43" horizontal centrifugal pump 150
at 130 rpm		   16ft   installed in 1831 house with 2 Lancashire boilers 2
1923-1958 diesel Mirrlees 5-cyl marine
blast-injection
(no 36650)		 250  at 250 rpm Allen conqueror
42" centrifugal		 145       installed in 1880 house
stand-by 1958-1981.
Donated to Prickwillow Engine Trust with 1880 house		 2
1958-date electric Lancashire Dynamo & Crypton 3-ph 415v size VAR33K10
no.313048, y'r 1957		 220
at 585
rpm		 submersible?         In new building. New intake and intake channel  
1958-date diesel Dorman 6-cyl
David Brown g/box		   submersible?         In new building. as back-up  
References are shown at bottom of page
 
  Salvage squad 10RB part 1:

  Salvage squad 10RB part 2:
  Salvage squad 10RB part 3:
  Salvage squad 10RB part 4:
 

References and Bibliography

ref notes, sources and glossary used in text and tables throughout this page
1 ELY Group of IDBs website
2 KSG Hinde: Fenland Pumping Engines, Landmark, 2006
3 Prickwillow Drainage Museum website
4 Prickwillow DrainageMuseum guide-book
5 Patrick Cox and John Sedgefield at Prickwillow Drainage Engine Museum (housed in the old steam houses)
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7  
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