Description and History of Site:-
Remains of the lower portion of a sandstone chimney, standing about 30ft (10m) high with curved brick internal lining and other foundation remains of a temporary pumping station built by the Leeds Waterworks Company to pump water from the River Wharfe to Eccup reservoir (WYK02368) to meet increased demand while the permanent Washburn Valley Reservoirs and the pumping station at Arthington were built. The remains of a weir are visible in the river as is part of the original intake structure and pipework.

In the early summer of 1851, the Leeds Waterworks Company were facing difficulties. Having recently improved the storage capacity at Eccup reservoir, a long spell of unusually dry weather had resulted in a severe and increasing shortage of water. A deputation from the Company approached Lord Harewood (who had previously helped them out in similar circumstances) and it was reported (Leeds Mercury 31st May 1851) that "His Lordship ... at once said, 'I will do anything I can to help you'. " The proposition put to Company's shareholders was " ... to put down a steam engine somewhere below Harewood Bridge, bring the water in pipes across the park, and through the village, to which his Lordship did not object" (ibid). It was stressed that this was to be a temporary arrangement. Mr. Leather, the Company's engineer, said that the erection of the works would cost £7,000 though the overall loss would only be about £2,000 when the works were later removed (and the engine and pumps reused elsewhere or sold). Construction of the works had commenced by August 1851 when it was reported (Leeds Mercury 23rd August 1851) that a workman had unfortunately been killed in the course of the work.

Mr Leather's proposal included both abstraction from the Wharfe at the pumping station (there is some evidence for this remaining at the site) and the interception of the Stank Beck to the north, near Harewood Bridge, together with a pipeline (conduit) to carry the water to the existing Stubhouse conduit which fed the reservoir at Eccup.

It is not entirely clear when the works went out of use (though the site is marked on the OS map surveyed 1888 as Disused), but it is most likely to have been contemporary with the commissioning of he Arthington Pumping Station (WYK02610) in 1855-6 by the Leeds City Waterworks who had by then taken over the supply of water from the original (private) company.

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Key Words :- water supply pumping station steam

Viewing the Site :- Can be viewed from the public footpath

Address :- Fitts Lane, Harewood, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS17 9LZ
Grid Ref :- SE 32167 46211
Co-ordinates :- Lat 53.911059 , Long -1.511814
Local Authority :- Leeds Council
Pre 1974 County :- Yorkshire - West Riding
Site Status :- Site demolished or no longer extant
Site Condition :- Site derelict - some buildings remaining
Site Dates :- circa 1850 -
Record Date :- 5 December 2015

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