Claverton Pumping Station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Claverton Pumping Station |
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Claverton Pumping Station with the pump house on the left, the wheelhouse to the right and the millpond in the foreground
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| Type | Pumping station |
| Location | Claverton, Somerset, England |
| Built | 1813 |
| Architect | John Rennie |
| Governing body | Claverton Pumping Station Group |
| Owner | Canal and River Trust |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Official name: Claverton Pumping Station | |
| Designated | 3 April 2019 |
| Reference no. | 1214608 |
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Listed Building – Grade II
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| Official name: Claverton Pumping Station | |
| Designated | 14 August 1984 |
| Reference no. | 399483 |
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The Claverton Pumping Station is a special building in the village of Claverton, England. It's in the county of Somerset. This station uses the power of the River Avon to pump water. It moves water from the river up to the Kennet and Avon Canal.
This amazing old machine was built a long time ago, in 1813. It was designed by a famous engineer named John Rennie. The station helped solve a big problem: getting enough water for the canal. It's now a very important historical site. It's even a Grade I listed building, which means it's protected because of its special history and design.
The pumping station stopped working in 1952. But in the 1960s and 1970s, students and volunteers worked hard to fix it. They brought it back to life! Today, it's owned by the Canal and River Trust. Volunteers help keep it running and open for visitors. It's like a living museum where you can see history in action.
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How Claverton Pumping Station Works
The Kennet and Avon Canal is about 48 feet (14.6 meters) higher than the River Avon at Claverton. The pumping station sits right by the river. It's made of special Bath Stone and has a slate roof.
Water for the station comes from the river. It's guided by a small channel called a leat. This channel is about 30 feet (9 meters) wide. The water then flows over special gates called sluices. These sluices can be opened or closed by hand.
The flowing water powers a huge water wheel. This wheel is 24 feet (7.3 meters) wide and 17 feet (5.2 meters) tall! It's split into two sections. The wheel has 96 wooden boards that the water pushes against. These boards are called "float boards." The wood used for these parts is very strong, called Iroko.
When the water wheel is working at full power, it uses about 2 tons (2 tonnes) of water every second. It spins about five times a minute. The water wheel is connected to a large gear. This gear has 408 wooden teeth! It helps speed things up.
From there, cranks push two long, strong metal beams. These are called "rocking beams." They are 18 feet (5.5 meters) long and were made by a famous company called Boulton and Watt. Each rocking beam powers a pump. These pumps lift water up to the canal.
With each pump stroke, about 50 imperial gallons (230 litres) of water are lifted. This water travels through a 150-foot (46-meter) long pipe. The pipe is 19 inches (0.48 meters) wide. This amazing system can lift a lot of water to keep the canal full!
A Look Back: The History of Claverton Pumping Station
Building the Canal and Pumping Station
People first thought about building a waterway across southern England a very long time ago. This was in the 1500s, during the Elizabethan era. They wanted to connect the Avon and Thames rivers. These rivers were only about 3 miles (4.8 km) apart at their closest point.
Later, in the 1700s, parts of the waterway started to open. The Kennet Navigation opened in 1723. The Avon navigation, from Bristol to Bath, opened in 1727. In 1788, a "Western Canal" was suggested. This canal would help trade and connect towns like Hungerford and Devizes.
Engineers surveyed the route, but there were worries about having enough water. In 1793, John Rennie surveyed the canal again. He suggested a new route. This route included building the Bruce Tunnel. On April 17, 1794, the Kennet and Avon Canal Act became law. Construction then began.
The new canal route had many locks. Locks help boats move up and down hills of water. But locks also use a lot of water. Each time a boat goes through, water is lost from the higher parts of the canal. This water needs to be replaced. Canals usually get water from rivers or streams. But sometimes, like at Claverton, a pumping station is needed. It lifts water back up to keep the canal full.
Building the Claverton Pumping Station took time. There were talks about water rights with other mills. Construction finally started in 1809. The big water wheel was put in place in 1810. But it took until early 1813 for the pumping station to finally open.
Working Life and Challenges
Once it opened, the pumping station worked all the time. It provided water for the busy canal. Over the years, the station needed repairs and changes. The huge water wheel sometimes sagged in the middle. This caused problems with its parts.
In the 1840s and 1850s, changes were made to strengthen the wheel. A central support was added, splitting the wheel into two parts. The wooden teeth on the main gear also had to be replaced many times.
In 1841, the Great Western Railway opened. This new railway meant fewer boats used the canal. The canal company even lowered prices, but traffic still dropped. In 1852, the railway company took over the canal. By 1877, the canal was losing money. Other canals that connected to the Kennet and Avon also closed.
Claverton Pumping Station kept working, but it was getting old. It needed constant repairs. In 1926, the railway company wanted to close the canal. But people fought to keep it open. After World War II, the canal's control changed hands. By the 1950s, parts of the canal were closed because of poor maintenance.
Finally, in 1952, Claverton Pumping Station stopped working. Some of the wooden teeth on its main gear broke. A smaller electric pump was installed to keep just enough water in the canal.
Bringing it Back to Life
After it closed, the pumping station was left empty and falling apart. But in the late 1960s, a group called the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust had an idea. They asked students from the University of Bath to see if the station could be fixed.
Work began in 1969. Engineering students from Bath University volunteered their time and effort. The Canal Trust provided money. They replaced rotten wood and added lights. They even dammed the water channel to work on the sluices and waterwheel.
By 1972, a lot of progress had been made. More volunteers joined in. They cleaned out mud from the pond. They fixed the hatches and restored the waterwheel. All 408 oak teeth on the main gear were replaced. The pumps were also repaired.
By February 1976, all the machinery was working again! Water could be pumped from the river to the canal. The Claverton Pumping Station officially reopened in 1978.
Since then, the station has had more restoration work. From 2012 to 2016, more wooden parts of the waterwheel were replaced. The oak teeth in the pit wheel were also replaced again.
Today, volunteers keep the pumping station running. It's open to the public on certain days. You can see the huge wheel and pumps in action. It's a fantastic example of old engineering and how people can work together to save history. The station has won awards for its historical importance and restoration.
Images for kids
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Claverton Pumping Station map
