Claverton Pumping Station
Claverton Pumping Station is a pumping station, located in the village of Claverton in the English county of Somerset, which pumps water from the River Avon to the Kennet and Avon Canal using power from the flow of the Avon.
Description
At Claverton the canal is cut into the side of the Avon valley 48 feet above the river. The pumping station is located in a pump house built of Bath Stone, next to Warleigh Weir. It is powered by a water wheel, 24 feet wide and 17 feet in diameter, with 48 wooden slats. At full power the wheel uses two tons of water per second and rotates five times a minute.
The water wheel drives gearing which increases the speed to 16 rpm. From here, cranks drive vertical connecting rods which transfer the energy to two 18 foot long cast iron rocking beams. Each rocking beam in turn drives an 18 inch diameter lift pump, which take their supply from the river. Each pump stroke raises 50 gallons of water to the canal.
History
The pumping station was built by John Rennie and worked continuously from 1813 until 1952. It then lay derelict until restored by a group of volunteers and re-opened in 1978.
There is a working model on the Kennett and Avon museum at Devizes.
Visiting
The pumping station is open to the public and the website below provides details.
See also
- Crofton Pumping Station, another restored pumping station on the Kennet and Avon canal.
External links
Sources
- . ISBN 095011734X.
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