Pumping Stations in the
South Level

a companion site to the

Ouse Washes Website

Welcome to my website on at

South Level Pumping Stations
old Ten Mile Bank PS

Contents of this page
related pages on other sites
- Ely Group of IDBs
- Downham Market Group of IDBs
main page and index

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?

(Old) Ten Mile Bank Pumping Station

INCOMPLETE DRAFT, Revision 1

Introduction

The earliest steam engine in the South Level and only the second in the Fens, was erected on the west side of the Great Ouse River, 1½ miles south of Denver Sluice, to drain the northern part of the L&D IDB's area. The river here is also known as the Ten Mile River and the road alongside, and also the nearest village, are both named Ten Mile Bank, after whch the station was named. (Hinde says early references name it Modney Court, but I haven't found that yet). Steam continued to be used, or to be available for use, until 1948

Potted history

period	fuel	engine	rating hp	pump/discharge	tpm	m3/s	head	acres drained	discharge/remarks/other	refs
1820-1842	steam	Hague&Topham	30	2 x scoopwheels 26ft x 2ft. One used at low water in Ouse, other at high					Hse demolished, plant sold 1842	3,2
1842-1912	steam	Butterley	80	new scoopwheel. extended to 43'8" diam & 3' wide in 1878					new house like 100Ft	3
1912-1948	steam	2 x Allen double- acting condensing 3 Lancashire boilers	250 each	2 x Allen 48" horizontal-spindle centrifugal pumps					in truncated 1842 hse	3,2
1935-1995	diesel	Allen 3S60 3-cyl, 4-stroke 238 litres ⁴	340						replaced 1 steam eng. Last worked Feb 1977	3 4
1948-1995	diesel	Allen T47 4-cyl, 2-stroke 124 litres ⁴	360						replaced other steam Last worked Feb 1977	3 4

References are shown at bottom of page

The 1842 steam plant seen c1900 from Cambs Coll

Photo: Cambs Coll via Hinde
the 1842 steam plant seen c1900

Photo: Courtesy Tony Goodge, ex-Engineer of L&D IDB
Interior of the station in 19xx showing the diesel-powered plant. At centre rear is the 1935 Allen 3S60, 340bhp 3-cyl 4-stroke diesel, and on the right is the 1948 Allen T47, 360bhp 4-cyl 2-stroke diesel.

Can't tell from this whether the rear engine is running, but the front one, the T47, is definitely not because the slots/ grooves in the huge flywheel (between white hand-rails) can be seen clearly. Before use, the flywheel has to be turned manually to a starting position by engaging a bar in the slots and levering it around using the stand in front of it as a fulcrum, an operation known as "barring".

After the site was decommissioned, both engines were put into storage and subsequently taken to Prickwillow Engine Museum where they were rebuilt and painted. They are now on display there (see below) and regularly run. Some covers have been left off to enable visitors to see operation of some parts and the exaust and cooling pipes have been changed to suit the new location. Below right, the T47 flywheel slots are not visible indicating the engine was running.

above and right, 3S60

above and far right, T47

Photos: Eddy, 2013
Left, 3S60; right, T47 (note changes from above.)