Claverton Pumping Station

Claverton Pumping Station is a pumping station, located in the village of Claverton in the English county of Somerset, which pumps water from the River Avon to the Kennet and Avon Canal using power from the flow of the River Avon.

Description

At Claverton the canal is cut into the side of the Avon valley 48ft (14.6m) above the river. The pumping station is located in a pump house built of Bath Stone, located at river level. Water is diverted from the river by Warleigh Weir, about 200yds (180m) upstream. The water flows down a leat to the pumping station, where it powers a water wheel, 24ft (7.3m) wide and 17ft (5.2m) in diameter, with 48 wooden slats. At full power the wheel uses 2 tons (2 tonnes) of water per second and rotates five times a minute.

The water wheel drives gearing which increases the speed to 16 rpm. From here, cranks drive vertical connecting rods which transfer the energy to two 18ft (5.5m) long cast iron rocking beams. Each rocking beam in turn drives an 18in (0.5m) diameter lift pump, which take their supply from the mill leat. Each pump stroke raises 50 gallons (227 litres) of water to the canal.

History

The pumping station was built by John Rennie and worked continuously from 1813 until 1952. It then lay derelict until restored by a group of volunteers and re-opened in 1978.
There is a working model on the Kennett and Avon museum at Devizes.