Coleham Pumping Station facts for kids
Coleham Pumping Station is a special old building in Coleham, Shrewsbury, England. It used to be a very important pumping station. This station helped manage the town's water and waste. Today, it is a museum where you can learn about its history.
History of the Pumping Station
The Coleham Pumping Station was built a long time ago. It was finished around the year 1900. This station was a big part of improving Shrewsbury's sewerage system. The sewerage system helps carry away dirty water and waste from homes.
Two huge steam engines were made for the station. They were built by a company called Renshaw's in 1897–1898. These engines were very powerful. A special brick building was built in 1900 to hold them. It looked a bit like a church from the Victorian era.
The pumping station officially opened in 1901. The mayoress of Shrewsbury helped open it. These steam-powered pumps worked for many years. They were used until 1970. Then, new electric pumps took over the job.
In 1974, the pumping station became part of the Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council. Now, it is a museum. Shropshire Museums, which is part of Shropshire Council, runs the museum.
Bringing the Engines Back to Life
A group called the Shrewsbury Steam Trust was started in 1992. Their goal was to fix the old steam engines. They also wanted to restore the two large Cornish boilers. These boilers made the steam needed to power the engines.
One of the boilers was ready to use in 2002. This meant the Trust could have "steam-up" days. On these days, visitors could see the engines working.
The second steam engine was fully restored on September 27, 2004. It was a big moment. The engine ran again for the first time in 34 years. It had been retired since 1970.
Now, both steam engines can be seen running together. This happens on special "Open Days" at the museum. It's a great chance to see history in action.
