Description and History of Site:-

A small modern pumping station is all that remains, at the north-west corner of the site.The formation of the Dearne Valley Waterworks Company was announced in The Journal of Gas Lighting, Water Supply and Sanitary Engineering of November 30th 1880:

"The Dearne Valley Water Works Act incorporates a Company for the supply of water within certain parishes and townships in the valley of the Dearne, in the West Riding of Yorkshire. The capital of the Company is £30,000, with power to borrow £7500 on mortgage. The supply of water is to be obtained by pumping, from a station situate in the township of Wombwell, whence a line of pipes is to run to a service reservoir in the township of Hoyland Nether. The Company take power to purchase by agreement six acres of land for oflices or buildings only, in addition to the proposed sites of their stations, which they may acquire compulsorily. The works are to be completed in five years. Water may at any time be supplied constantly by order of the Local Government Board. Water for all domestic purposes is to be supplied at a rate not exceeding six per cent. on the annual rack-rent or gross rateable value of the premises, with additional rates for extra water-closets and baths. The Company may supply by meter water for other than domestic purposes, at rates not exceeding 1s. per thousand gallons for any quantity up to 50,000 gallons per quarter, and 10 1/2d. per thousand gallons for any further quantity. The Company may supply water in bulk to neighbouring sanitary authorities, provided that such supply can be afforded without detriment to the Company's domestic supply. The Company may also supply any water or sanitary fittings to persons using their water."

Formally opened on the 25th February 1884, water was pumped from a well of 9 feet diameter and 84 feet deep. The event was reported by the 'Sheffield and Rotherham Independent' newspaper as follows:

"Yesterday these works, which have been in course of construction for some months past, were formally opened. The company has been formed for the purpose of supplying Wombwell, Darfield, Wath, Hoyland, and the surrounding district with a good supply of pure water, a necessity which has been long felt. The works are situated at Broomhill, and are now in full swing. Mains have been laid through Wombwell and down to Wombwell Main [colliery], and close by the above-named spot is a service reservoir, up to which the water will be forced and from which it will be supplied to consumers. The pumping engine is of 60-horse power, and capable of pumping 30,000 gallons per hour. The water, after being pumped from the bottom, is emptied into an open reservoir, through which it percolates into the filter bed, and then into a closed reservoir, from which it is pumped to the service reservoir. At the time named for the opening, a very large number of ladies and gentlemen attended, and Mr. W. J. Sykes Hoyland, chairman of the directors, made a neat and appropriate speech, and closed en escape door and turned the water into the open reservoir amid hearty cheers from the assembled visitors, the Wath Volunteer Band meantime playing the National Anthem. Many of the visitors then were conveyed to Wombwell, where at various places hydrants were fixed, and so strong was the pressure of water that a jet over 80 feet high was thrown. After the return, luncheon was served to about 100 guests in the engine room."

By 1914, the company was abstracting an average of around 480,000 gallons per day from the original well at Everill Gate and a second at Low Valley. They also took 54,000 gallons a day bulk supply from Sheffield TC. Service reservoirs were located at Hoyland (190,000 gallons), Great Houghton (25,000 gallons) and Goldthorpe (50,000 gallons).

The original horizontal steam pumping engine and force pumps were replaced in 1928. After more than 40 years of work the plant was credited with having pumped some 4000 million gallons of water, raising it 84 feet from the well and delivering it to the service reservoirs against a head of 885 feet.

The installation of the new plant, driven by electricity rather than steam, was rather challenging due to the limited space in the well, and the fact that the existing plant had to be kept running in-situ while the new plant was installed around it. The details were described in 'The Engineer' of April 6th 1928.

Further Reading and References:-

Journal of Gas Lighting, Water Supply and Sanitary Engineering, 30/11/1880.
Sheffield and Rotherham Independent, 26th February and 24th May 1884.
'Return as to Water Undertakings in England and Wales', 1914.
https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/The_Engineer_1928/04/06 (p.373)

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Key Words :- potable water pumping bore well

Address :- Everill Gate Lane, Wombwell, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S73 0YL
Grid Ref :- SE 4114 0267
Co-ordinates :- Lat 53.519099 , Long -1.380997
Local Authority :- Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
Pre 1974 County :- Yorkshire - West Riding
Site Status :- Site extant - Protected status unknown
Site Condition :- Site in alternative industrial use
Contributor :- Nick Nelson - 17 July 2019

Copyright :- cc-by-nc-sa 4.0 © Nick Nelson