About the station
Dogdyke is a land drainage pumping station. The steam engine was built in 1856 to replace an existing wind driven pump to drain a large area of farmland between the rivers Bain and Witham. The engine, which runs in steam on all Open Days, is the original, external condensing beam-engine built by Bradley and Craven of Wakefield. It is the only surviving engine by this builder and is possibly the oldest steam-driven scoop wheel land drainage pumping set in the country that is still in steam and in its original position. This is a 16-horse power steam engine driving a 24 foot (7.3m) diameter scoop wheel with wooden floats that can lift 25 tons (22.7tonnes) of water. It once lifted water from the lower drain into the River Witham, but now the water is channelled back into the drain.
1887 diagram of our 24-foot diameter scoop wheel pump
The Diesel Pumping Engine
In 1940 a new building was erected next to the steam pump. This houses a 40 horse-power Ruston & Hornsby 7XHR single cylinder diesel engine that runs at 300 rpm and drives a 22inch (56cm) diameter centrifugal pump made by Gwynnes. It can pump 40 tons (36tonnes) of water per minute. A 5 horse-power Ruston & Hornsby 1VTO engine operates a compressor which fills a reservoir cylinder to 200psi, used to start the main engine. All this machinery was made in Lincoln.
This pump was replaced by electric pumps on a different site in 1979 but it is still used by the Witham 3rd Internal Drainage Board as a stand-by pumping set for use in an emergency.
The engines operate each open day on the times shown. In the Pump Attendant’s Cottage there is a small museum and also a refreshment room for teas and home-made cakes. The entrance and car parking are free but we welcome donations to help towards the running costs of the engines and site.
Group visits are welcomed
Links
- Nearby Eventswww.nearbyevents.co.uk
- Stretham Enginewww.strethamoldengine.org.uk
- Westonzoyland Pumping Station www.wzlet.org
- Prickwillow Drainage Museum www.prickwillowmuseum.com
- London Museum of Water & Steam www.waterandsteam.org.uk
- Hereford Waterworks Museum www.waterworksmuseum.org.uk
- Papplewick Pumping Station www.papplewickpumpingstation.org.uk (Trust) www.papplewickpumpingstation.co.uk (Association)
- Witham Third Internal Drainage Board www.witham-3rd-idb.co.uk
- Quincey's Pumping Station www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/venueDetails.aspx?venuecode=22868
- Heritage Lincolnshire www.heritagelincolnshire.org
- Society for Lincolnshire History & Archaeologywww.slha.org.uk
- The Association for Industrial Archaeologywww.industrial-archaeology.org
- Coleham Pumping Station, Shrewsburywww.colehampumpingstation.co.uk
- Pinchbeck Engine Museumwww.wellandidb.org.uk/museum
Winner
Heritage Award for Excellence 2016 Lincolnshire Heritage Forum
Open Days 2018
- Sunday 6 May 12.00pm to 4.30pm
- Sunday 3 June 12.00pm to 4.30pm
- Sunday 1 July 12.00pm to 4.30pm
- Wednesday 18 July 5.00pm to 8.00pm
- Sunday 5 August 12.00pm to 4.30pm
- Wednesday 15 August 5.00pm to 8.00pm
- Sunday 2 September 12.00pm to 4.30pm
- Saturday 15 September 12.00pm to 4.30pm
- Sunday 7 October 12.00pm to 4.30pm
Sunday 7 October 2018
Don’t miss our final open day of 2018
on Sunday 7 October
- The last chance this year to see both the steam and diesel engines running before we close for the winter and undertake a programme of maintenance, repair, and improvement work.
- Besides the usual plant, produce, and tombola stalls there will be a display of vintage agricultural and drainage tools and equipment owned and exhibited by Mr Colin Cust.
- The kitchen will be serving delicious tea and cakes, and volunteers will be on hand to answer any questions you might have about the site, land drainage in general, and its importance to the local communities and economy.
- Much of the site is accessible by the less mobile and facilities for the disabled are available. There is ample free parking on-site with disabled spaces close to the cottage.
We're on Facebook
Find us on YouTube
Search YouTube for"Dogdyke pumping engines"and see our engines in operation. Then come and experience the sounds and atmosphere of these machines at work.
Admission free
donations welcome.
Site Accessibility
The site’s car park, buildings and toilet are all accessible to wheelchairs and pushchairs. There are baby changing facilities and dogs on leads are welcome.
Where to find us
Dogdyke pumping station is located near Bridge Farm, Tattershall, Lincolnshire, LN4 4JG (Please do not use this as a postal address). You will find us off the A153 Sleaford to Horncastle road and the entrance is on the right, immediately east of Tattershall Bridge. The site is well sign posted on Open Days and is reached down a farm track which is Only open on Steaming Days.
Membership
The site is run by a small band of members. We would like you to join us. It is only £10 per year which goes towards the running of the site and you get four Newsletters with information of our activities including articles on the history of the site and land drainage in the county. We welcome members who would like to help on Open Days and with the maintenance of the engines and buildings. For more information contact Chris Page.
Contact us
Dogdyke Pumping Station Preservation Trust,
Chris Page, Publicity Officer,
13 Cherry Grove,
Swanpool,
Lincoln,
LN6 0HE
Tel: 01522 683755
Email: chrisj.p@ntlworld.com
Acknowledgments
We thank the following for their support:
Maud Foster Windmill Boston for flour.
East Lindsey District Council.
Bridge Farm, Tattershall.
