Pumping stations to open their doors for Heritage Open Days 2024

This September, pumping stations across lowland England will be opening their doors to the public as part of Heritage Open Days 2024.

This is a rare opportunity to visit a number of operational and heritage pumping stations, to learn about their role in safeguarding land, homes, businesses, and the environment from flooding across thousands of hectares of England.

Several of the working pumping stations open to the public for Heritage Open Days 2024 are operated by internal drainage boards (IDBs), public bodies that manage water levels in lowland areas, where there is a special need for the management of watercourses and water infrastructure. IDBs undertake works to reduce flood risk to people and property, and manage water levels for agricultural and environmental needs within their districts. Collectively they operate and maintain over 600 pumping stations, 22,000 km of watercourse, and thousands of sluices, weirs and water control structures. Their pumping stations worked extremely hard this winter, pumping some 1.3 billion m3 of water in Lincolnshire alone during one of the wettest winters on record. That’s ten times the volume of Rutland Water.

Celebrating its 30th anniversary, Heritage Open Days (HODs) returns this September with thousands of free events and experiences. Brought to you by the National Trust, supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery and run by thousands of local organisations and volunteers, HODs brings people together to celebrate their heritage, community and history.

From historic houses to factories, museums to music halls, formal gardens to graveyards, places and spaces will again open for free this autumn. Across the country, thousands of intriguing events and fun new experiences will happen as part of Heritage Open Days, the country’s largest festival of history and culture.

What’s open?

Here are some of the lowland pumping stations open to the public this September:

Hobhole Diesel Pumping Station, Boston, Lincolnshire – Saturday 07 September

Built in 1957, the station houses three Allen 6 cylinder 770 hp diesel engines, each connected to an 88 inch diameter impellor pump. It defends ~37,000 hectares of mostly high grade agricultural land, ~100,000 people, ~30,000 jobs, and ~2,000 businesses. Learn about Witham Fourth District Internal Drainage Board’s plans for a new replacement pumping station that are in development.

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Horsey Windpump, Horsey, Norfolk – Saturday 07 September and Sunday 08 September

Discover the rich history of the windpump with free admission into the iconic building preserved by the National Trust. Find out how drainage mills work, the importance they play in the landscape and how this windpump was brought back to life.

Drainage mills are iconic architecture of the Norfolk Broads landscape and played an important part in keeping the land dry so farmers were able to graze their livestock and grow produce. While the buildings themselves are not used today, several still remain intact after a lot of love and care, with Horsey Windpump being one of them. The electricity powered pump next door is still operated by Broads Internal Drainage Board and is due to be replaced as part of the IDB’s efforts to ensure future resilience and adaptability to climate change.

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Black Sluice Pumping Station, Boston, Lincolnshire – Sunday 08 September and Monday 09 September

Discover the history of the Black Sluice Site which has had a role in land drainage since 1638 and get up close to the magnificent machines from the 1940s and 1960s which rarely survive in situ. Booking required.

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Tydd Pumping Station, Wisbech, Cambridge – Saturday 14 September

Visitors will be able to explore the Pumping Station, learn about its role in the management of water levels of the area, view a static display of the work of the North Level District Internal Drainage Board, talk to the people who keep us safe from flooding and see the pumps in action. The pumps will run at 12.00 and 2.30.

Refreshments will be available and guided walks along the North Level Main Drain and around Foul Anchor will set off at 10.30 and 13.00.

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Dogdyke Steam Drainage Station, Tattershall, Lincolnshire – Saturday 14 September

This steam engine was built in 1856 to replace an existing wind driven pump to drain a large area of farmland between the rivers Bain and Witham. The unique 1856 Bradley and Craven beam engine will be in steam and the 1940, Lincoln built, Ruston and Hornsby diesel pumping engine will be at work. There is also a display of farm equipment, vintage vehicles, and bygones. The station is conserved by the Dogdyke Pumping Station Preservation Trust.

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Quincey’s Pumping Station, Thorpe Culvert, Lincolnshire – Saturday 14 September & Sunday 15 September

Land drainage pumping station built in 1938 housing two Ruston and Hornsby diesel engines coupled to Gwynnes pumps still on standby to Lindsey Marsh Drainage Board. The station was restored and is maintained by volunteers initially under the guidance of the late Dennis Quincey the station being renamed in his memory by the board. One engine will be run at various times during the day.

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Westonzoyland Pumping Station Museum, Westonzoyland, Somerset – Sunday 15 September

The use of steam power on the Somerset Levels for land drainage began at Westonzoyland in 1830, when the first of eight pumping stations was built on the banks of the River Parrett. Discover how steam was used to power the ‘award winning’ 1861 Easton Amos land drainage machine and see a unique and varied collection of engines, winches, turbines and pumps in action from steam, raised by our 1938 Marshall Portable Boiler. The museum has one of the largest collections of working steam engines and pumps in England.

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South Street Pumping Station, Owston Ferry, Lincolnshire – Sunday 15 September

The unique 1910 Marshall LHT Class steam engine will be in steam and the 1943 Ruston 9HRC 2 cylinder diesel engine will also be running for you to see how these magnificent machines operated.

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