Description and History of Site:-
The city of Hull being so very flat and low lying has had a long history of organised water supply. Much of the water was conducted in open leats from sources at Springhead and in the 19th century a large imposing pumping station was built on the site. Besides being the local headquarters of the present water authority this building houses a small museum devoted to the history of water supply. The central feature of the museum is the exceptionally finely made 1876 Cornish beam engine manufactured by Bells Lightfoot & Co of Tyneside, still in situ.rnrnThis engine replaced the original installation of c1869 when twin 50" beam engines and 26" force pumps were installed. These were designed by Thomas Dale, Engineer to the Hull Corporation, and made at Kirkstall Forge at a cost of £8432. The works involved were described in 'The Engineer' of October 29th 1869:rnrn"The engines, boilers, pump work and all the works connected therewith, including the extra castings for the shaft and the girders, were all constructed by the Kirkstall Forge Company, and we have Mr. Dale's authority for stating that nothing could be more satisfactory. The pumping shaft, sunk in the centre of the engine-house, is 14 ft. internal diameter, and 71ft. 6in. in depth. The shaft is lined with cast iron cylinders to a depth of 38ft. below the working floor of the engine house, and the remainder with 9in. brickwork in cement. The bottom of the shaft is covered with cast metal plates 1 1/2 in. thick, with flanged joints, which are bolted together and made water-tight, resting on flanged cross girders, the plates and girders passing underneath the linings of the shaft. In the centre of the shaft a bore hole, 15in. diameter, penetrates the chalk to a further depth of 210ft. ... The water is pumped through a main 25in. diameter for a length of 4 3/4 miles, and is then discharged into reservoirs at Stone Ferry, from whence it is again pumped into the town mains. The yield of water ranges from four million gallons in the winter season to five and a-half million gallons in the summer." From The History of Kirkstall Forge through seven centuries, Butler R, 1945, p154rnrn"Another good contract was for Hull Corporation in 1862 to whom we supplies 2 Engines, 5 Boilers and 2 pumps for £6,385. The plant was erected at Spring Head in the village of Anlaby and worked until 1898."

Further Reading and References:-
Falconer K, Guide to England's Industrial Heritage,1980rn'The Engineer' October 29th 1869. https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/The_Engineer_1869/10/29

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Key Words :- pumping station water supply

Viewing the Site :- Open daily (2017)

Address :- Springhead Lane, Anlaby Park, Hull, East Yorkshire, HU5 5YJ
Grid Ref :- TA 04165 29445
Co-ordinates :- Lat 53.750973 , Long -0.421776
Local Authority :- Hull City Council
Pre 1974 County :- Yorkshire - East Riding
Site Status :- Listed - Grade II
Historic England List No - 1219405,
Site Condition :- Site conserved but not normally open to the public
Site Dates :- 1864 -
Record Date :- 15 May 2015

Copyright :- cc-by-nc-sa 4.0 © John Suter