Pinchbeck Engine
{{Short description|1833 beam engine, Lincolnshire, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox historic site
| name =
| native_name =
| native_language =
| image = Pinchbeck-Engine-House-by-Chris-Allen.jpg
| caption = The engine house
| type = Beam engine
| locmapin = Lincolnshire
| coordinates = {{Coord|52.81777|-0.12910|region:GB|name=The Pinchbeck Engine|display=title|format=dms}}
| gbgridref = TF 26174 26148
| location =
| area =
| built = 1833
| architect =
| architecture =
| governing_body =
| owner = Welland and Deepings Internal Drainage Board
| designation1 = Scheduled monument
| designation1_offname = Pinchbeck engine
| designation1_date =
| designation1_number = {{Listed building England|1004966}}
| designation2 = Grade II
| designation2_offname = Pinchbeck Engine Drainage Pump
| designation2_date = 13 January 1988
| designation2_number = {{Listed building England|1146782}}
| designation3 =
| designation3_offname =
| designation3_date =
| designation3_number =
| designation4 =
| designation4_offname =
| designation4_date =
| designation4_number =
| designation5 =
| designation5_offname =
| designation5_date =
| designation5_number =
}}
The Pinchbeck Engine is a drainage engine, a rotative beam engine built in 1833 to drain Pinchbeck Marsh, to the north of Spalding, Lincolnshire, in England.{{cite PastScape|mnumber=352315|mname=Pinchbeck Engine|accessdate=3 October 2009}} Until it was shut down in 1952, the engine discharged into the Blue Gowt which joins the River Glen at Surfleet Seas End.{{cite book|title=Fenland Pumping Engines|last=Hinde|first=K.S.G.|publisher=Landmark|year=2006|page=164|isbn=1-84306-188-0}}
Museum
In 1952 the engine was rendered obsolete by modern electric pumps and stood forgotten until being opened to the public as a museum in 1979. The coal store was cleared and now houses the associated Museum of Land Drainage. The museum complex includes the blacksmith's shop, still in its original condition. The museum is operated by the Welland and Deepings Internal Drainage Board,{{Cite web |url=http://www.wellandidb.org.uk/ |title=Welland and Deepings IDB |access-date=3 October 2009 |archive-date=17 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100417075718/http://www.wellandidb.org.uk/ |url-status=live }} successors to the commissioners who erected the engine.{{Cite book|title=Machines, Mills & uncountable costly necessities|author=R L Hills|publisher=Goose & Co (Norwich)|year=1967}} The buildings are Grade II listed and also a Scheduled Ancient Monument.{{NHLE |num=1004966|desc=Pinchbeck Engine|accessdate=5 October 2009}}{{NHLE|num=1146782|desc=Pinchbeck Engine Draining Pump|grade=II|accessdate=21 March 2013}}
The chimney was demolished in 1952, and no actions were taken to preserve the boiler, which is no longer in a fit state to be used. The engine is a static exhibit, which can be rotated by an electric motor for demonstration purposes.{{cite web |url=http://www.spaldingtoday.co.uk/lifestyle/the_pinchbeck_pumping_engine_1_568904 |publisher=Spalding Guardian |date=22 October 2007 |title=The Pinchbeck Pumping Engine |access-date=8 November 2010 |archive-date=16 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716201842/http://www.spaldingtoday.co.uk/lifestyle/the_pinchbeck_pumping_engine_1_568904 |url-status=live }}
Beam engine
File:Pinchbeck-Engine-by-Chris-Allen.jpg
The engine is a {{convert|20|hp|kW|lk=on}} condensing steam engine with an overhead beam supported by an 'A'-frame. It was built by the Butterley Company of Ripley, Derbyshire. It has a single cylinder of {{convert|35|in|cm}} bore and {{convert|56|in|m|2}} stroke. The flywheel is {{convert|18|ft|6|in|m|2}} in diameter. The engine ran at up to 30 rpm.{{cite web|title=Leaflet 'The Pinchbeck Engine'|publisher=Welland and Deeping IDB|year=1998|url=http://www.stationarysteamengines.co.uk/stia/pinchbeckleaflet.htm|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719174509/http://www.stationarysteamengines.co.uk/stia/pinchbeckleaflet.htm|archivedate=19 July 2011|df=dmy-all}}
The engine is gear-coupled to a single scoop wheel in an adjacent compartment. There are 40 paddles around the circumference of the {{convert|22|ft|m|2|adj=on}} wheel, which could lift a maximum of {{convert|7500|impgal|L}} of water per minute through an {{convert|8|ft|m|2|adj=on}} lift. The annual effort varied between {{convert|1093000|LT|MT|-3|lk=on}} tons of water lifted, and {{convert|3690000|LT|MT|-3|lk=on}}. Typically the engine was operated for around 180 days a year and an engine man was permanently retained, living on the site.
The boiler dates from 1895 and is a twin furnace Lancashire boiler, delivering {{convert|12|psi|abbr=on}}. It consumed around {{convert|1|-Lcwt|kg|abbr=on|lk=in}} of coal per hour. Coal supplies were originally brought by barge, but after the land was successfully drained a railway line was laid from Spalding to Boston, and coals were delivered to a nearby goods facility. They were then transported on a very short narrow gauge railway line in colliery-style tubs. The motive power for this appears to have been human. One of the tubs and a metre or so of line is displayed at the museum.
The engine is said to be the earliest 'A'-frame engine still in situ,{{Cite journal|title=DOE Industry Monuments Survey (Prov Sched List)|year= 1973}} the longest-working beam engine in the Fens, and the last in use.
See also
- Pode Hole where the Welland and Deeping IDB have another museum.
- Dogdyke Pumping Station
- Stretham Old Engine
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Pinchbeck Engine}}
- [http://www.wellandidb.org.uk/museum Welland and Deeping IDB: Pinchbeck Engine Museum]- official site
- [http://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/popiOrgVenue.asp?vid=417 Info page about the museum]
- [http://gisservices.english-heritage.org.uk/printwebservicehle/StatutoryPrint.svc/138883/HLE_A4L_Grade|HLE_A3L_Grade.pdf Map of the location from the Listed Building database]
{{The Fens}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Museums in Lincolnshire
Category:Preserved beam engines
Category:Agricultural museums in England
Category:Grade II listed buildings in Lincolnshire
Category:Scheduled monuments in Lincolnshire
Category:Steam museums in England