Crofton Pumping Station

It's a canal picture, but not as we know it. This is the the hand stoked, coal fired Lancashire boiler house of the Crofton pumping engine, which after a spell of inaction after some lurgi got into the waterworks, is back in action and in steam for the August bank holiday.

The pumping station was needed in 1807 to pump water up to the summit level of the Kennet and Avon Canal. Although it can still perform this task, this is strictly for the tourists as modern pumping stations now do the real job.

Nearby is the Wilton windmill, built in 1821. It is only a mile or so up the road, but using my unique self-navigation skills I turned it into a fifteen-mile car journey.

It is the only operating windmill in Wiltshire and needed to be built following the construction of the Kennet and Avon Canal because the canalising of the waters of the River Bedwyn had taken away the power to drive the several water mills in the vicinity that were used to grind corn. The Wilton windmill replaced all of these.

I rejoined the canal a little later at Great Bedwyn for a few more shots.

Alternatives:
Crofton Locks detail #1
Crofton Locks detail #2
Mallard at Great Bedwyn
Canal at Great Bedwyn

Lens: Sigma 70-300mm

Blip #512
Consecutive Blip #000
Day #522

1 Year Ago: Bowerhill (Kennet & Avon)

Crofton Pumping Station (Wikipedia article)
Crofton Pumping Station (Official site)