Pumping Stations in the
South Level


a companion site to the
Ouse Washes Website
 Slideshow image
Welcome to my website on at
    South Level Pumping Stations
    Lark Engine PS
  • Contents of this page
  • related pages on other sites
  • main page and index
  • Copywright & acknowledgements
      Text and photos except where noted © Eddy Edwards 2010-13. Please do not use my material without permission.
      Steam and oil plant data largely from KSG Hinde's book Fenland Pumping Engines.
      IDB details from the Ely Group website
      Some new works details from Hannah-Reed.
  • Can you correct or add anything?
      Your help would be appreciated, please e-mail me (Eddy) Your response will be added unless you ask otherwise.










by Eddy Edwards

Lark Pumping Station

INCOMPLETE DRAFT, Revision 1

Introduction

by Eddy Edwards Photo: Eddy Edwards, Oct 2013
Looking north from Lark Bank (road) the 1945 brick diesel house is alongside the IDB's drain, the electric instalation at its head. Discharge is into the River Lark.
   
 

Potted history

period  fuel engine rating hp pump tpm m3/s head acres
drained		 discharge/remarks/other refs
                     
1842 steam Boulton & Watt
side-lever		 40             2
1883-1945  steam Hawthorn-Davey
horizontal tandem		 60 horizontally mounted 77" centrifugal3 120   14ft   installed in the 1842 building. On stand-by from 1925, last used 1937, removed 1945. building converted to workshop, demolished 1990; stone plaque removed to Prickwillow museum 2
1926  diesel Blackstone 250 Gwynnes 42" rotary 150   18ft   installed in a new building.
engine "retired" in 19743, sold 19892		 2
1945 diesel Crossley-Premier
KO4 4-cyl horizontal-ppposed 		300 Gwynnes 36" rotary 150       installed in another new building to supplement the Blackstone2 2
1976 diesel Dorman automatic op'tion 2303 Allen-gwynnes 33"vertical- spindle         Replaced both old diesels.
installed in Crossley enginehouse which was extended		 2
19974  electric 3 x Teco Elec & Mach Co of Taiwan 85 kw
at 588 rpm		  3 submersible pumps         3 new new discharge pipes with siphon breaker valves. 4
                     
References are shown at bottom of page
 

Photo: From Fenland Pumping Stations
This was the 1842 house built along the side of the road (Lark Bank), seen here c1972. The first engine installed was a Boulton & Watt driving a scoopwheel. The plant was replaced in 1883 by a Hathorn Davey steam engine. Note Engine Driver's house at far end. Building demolished 1990. Plaque over door removed to Prickwillow Museum
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References and Bibliography

ref notes, sources and glossary used in text and tables throughout this page
1 ELY Group of IDBs website
2 KSG Hinde: Fenland Pumping Engines, Landmark, 2006
3 "Bob1960evens" on Wikipedia
4 data plate on electric motor (seen 2013)
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