Stretham Old Engine
This great steam engine was installed at Stretham, Cambridgeshire in 1831 to pump water up from the fields into the rivers. The engine was superseded by a Mirrlees Diesel engine in 1925 and last operated in 1941.
The boilers no longer function so with a little Fenland film magic. At the end you will find a little production by HistoryNeedsYou who filmed the engine moving really slowly, powered by an electric motor. We then sped the film up 16 times to the original operating speed and added the sounds it would have made.
Full video: • Stretham Old Engine - ...
Timeline of events:
1700 - 1831:
1741 Waterbeach Level constituted by Act of Parliament.
1814 John Rennie reported on his survey of the drainage.
1829 Mr. Glynn invited to decide best situation for the Stretham engine. (This station rests on a bed of hard gravel so no piling was required).
1831 Contract for engine, boiler and scoop-wheel awarded to Mr. Glynn.
1831 Contract for building brickwork of engine house awarded to Mr. Briggs.
1831 - 1870:
1847 Third boiler installed.
1850 New scoopwheel fitted 33 feet in diameter.
1870 - 1899:
1871 Two original boilers renewed.
1878 Third boiler renewed.
1892 Crankshaft replaced.
1896 New scoop wheel, 37 feet in diameter
1900 - 1947
1925 Mirrlees diesel started work driving a Gwynnes centrifugal pump. (Their pumping ability was three times that of the steam engine and scoop-wheel).
1941 Steam engine last used
1947 Mirrlees diesel and the Station relegated to ‘standby’ duty.
1947 - 1980
1958 Preservation appeal for the engine on T V by L.E. Harris.
1959 Stretham Engine Preservation Trust formed.
1966 Mirrlees diesel last worked.
1969 Electrically driven pump installed at Bottisham Lock (pumping from the Waterbeach Level into the River Cam).
1980 - 2000
1988 Stretham Engine Trust formed and a new 99-year lease obtained from the Waterbeach Level Internal Drainage Board.
1989 National Appeal for funds & Phase 1 renovation works started.
1993 Coal yard wall rebuilt, fencing above weed screen installed and Phase 2 renovation works completed.
1994 Concrete floor to Guinness engine shed laid.
1995 Electrical drive fitted to flywheel of the Engine; Guinness engine and Archimedean Screw pump installed; steps and walkway to the weighbridge installed.
2000 - 2010
2002 Partial electrical re-wiring; display lighting in beam loft and Guinness shed installed.
2003 Carpenter’s shed floor concreted; new lighting in scoop wheel house installed and the chimney was repaired.
2004 Scoop wheel ladles repaired.
2005 Mirrlees Engine House roof repaired.
2006 Shelter for Archimedean Screw constructed; river gauge renovated; oilers throughout repaired or replaced; all brasswork cleaned, polished and repaired; barrier plate behind flywheel secured.
2007 New fanlight for boiler room fitted; all outside doors (apart from main door) replaced with Oroko hardwood.
2008 Lighting in Engine House extended; half of the internal walls of the boiler room sealed and repainted; broken pipe on No. 2 boiler welded; Weighbridge hut repainted; shutters to Mirrlees windows installed.
2009 Mirrlees windows and door frame replaced with hard wood.
2010 Easton Amos & Anderson centrifugal pump installed on concrete plinth outside the Mirrlees Engine House
2010 - 2024
Since 2017 new volunteers have continued the work of care and restoration of the engines and ancillary equipment, with a further increase in visitor footfall. However, in 2020, Covid 19 required the Station to close for the first time in its 190-year history
Further information including opening times: strethamoldengine.com/
Thanks as always for stopping by..
All the best