Description and History of Site:-
The Newcomen Beam Engine at Elsecar is the only Newcomen type atmospheric pressure beam engine in the world still in its original location and as such is one of South Yorkshire's finest surviving legacies of the Industrial Revolution.

Installed in 1795, the engine ran continuously until 1923, when it was replaced by electric pumps although it was retained in reserve and used again in 1931. Its pump lifted over a quarter of a million gallons of water a day from the Barnsley coal seam to an underground drainage level. A 48in diameter cylinder replaced the original 42in diameter one in 1801 and the rocking beam was modernised in 1836; the twin cast iron rocking beams and Watt motion are of the usual type and project outside the building at one end to connect with the long line of wooden pump rods slung between two tall A-frames which carry timber beams supporting the linkage bearing. The engine is housed in a three storey stone engine house with slate roof.

Awarded a £425,000 HLF grant the engine was restored and opened to the public during 2015.

Further Reading and References:-
Barbey, M (ed). Civil engineering heritage - northern England. Thomas Telford, 1981, HEW 220.
Bayliss, D (ed). Guide to the industrial history of South Yorkshire. Association for Industrial Archaeology, 1995, entry B01.

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Key Words :- newcomen colliery pumping engine

Viewing the Site :- Site open to the public

Address :- Wath Road, Elsecar, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S74 8HG
Grid Ref :- SK 38704 99959
Co-ordinates :- Lat 53.494918 , Long -1.418069
Local Authority :- Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
Pre 1974 County :- Yorkshire - West Riding
Site Status :- Scheduled Ancient Monument SAM
Historic England List No - 1004790,
Site Condition :- Site conserved and open to the public
Site Dates :- 1795 -
Record Date :- 6 May 2015

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