Pymoor - Steam Pump Engine House

These buildings are sited almost two miles north of the village.  However, the complex is of great importance as it sits at the end of Pymoor Main Drain which runs below sea level all the way round Pymoor from near Oxlode.  The task of the pumping station is to lift the surplus water in the drain into the Hundred Foot River.

From this angle it is difficult to appreciate how much higher the river (in the top left of the picture) is above the road.  The road, which is itself built part way up the river banks, is itself significantly higher than the surrounding land.  A better impression is gained from a photograph of the road (34k) further to the north.

On the tallest of the cluster of buildings there is a plaque on the wall facing the river which lists the changes at the site since 1756:

As well as this plaque, which appears to have been fixed to the wall relatively recently, there is another one.  This must have been part of the orginal structure as it is embedded in the wall.  It has an interesting inscription which reads:

The Fens have oft-times by water drowned,
Science a remedy in water found;
The power of steam she said, shall be employ'd
And the Destroyer by itself destroyed.

The text of these plaques have unusal capitalisation and use of italics, which I have tried to reproduce above.

David Fenn, great grandfather of Joan Saberton, who worked at the old blacksmiths and village shop (47k) for many years, worked here.  Nearby was a pub called "The Five Alls" and Mrs Leaford had a shop in the front room of her house.  There was also a chapel which served the community around the Engine House.

If you can give further information about the pumping station, please let me know.

Apologies for the colour of this shot.  I haven't had a chance to correct the obvious failings in an old photograph exposed to daylight for too long.

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