Crofton Beam Engines
Crofton Beam Engines
4.5
About
Crofton Pumping Station is one of the most significant industrial heritage sites in the United Kingdom and a fascinating Grade 1 listed heritage visitor attraction visitor that invites you to step into our industrial and social history and turn back the clock to a time when steam was king. The station was built in 1807-9 to supply water to the highest point of the Kennet & Avon Canal which links London and Bristol. It is a rare survivor of the technology which enabled British engineers to drain mines and supply towns and cities with water throughout the world, and has recently undergone National Lottery Heritage Fund supported conservation and visitor facility improvement work. Please see our website for more information and to check when we are in steam. No refreshments available on site though visitors are encouraged to bring a picnic to enjoy in the grounds. Open on selected Saturdays and Sundays
Duration: 2-3 hours
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4.5
262 reviews
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salsakarl
Ringwood, UK383 contributions
Nov 2020 • Friends
More to see than just a single beam engine, with plenty of staff available to answer questions. It is set in a lovely location, and we walked along the canal from nearby Bedwyn, having caught the train there. Tickets last for 12 months
Written 3 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jillysc
Hungerford, UK13 contributions
May 2021
Visited on Bank Holiday Monday 31/05/2021. You can't pre book but it was not busy anyway so were able to go straight in. Not a 'steaming' day which aren't up and running yet but exhibition was open and very well run. Covid guidelines in place and sanitation points everywhere. My 10 year old son really enjoyed this stop (part of our canal walk) and he thoroughly questioned the volunteer staff who were there to answer any questions. the volunteer staff were able to give their personal experiences of the workings of the beam engines which was a great personal touch. Would highly recommend, there are picnic benches outside for us to eat our packed lunch. We will pop in again when they have a 'steaming day' so we can see everything when it's in working order.
Written 1 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your kind review. Keep an eye on our website and social media for announcements about steaming days. We look forward to seeing you again!
Written 9 June 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
LightAleCavalier
Lancashire700 contributions
Jun 2021
We visited on the day of the first firing since 2019 and it was in full flow when we got there. We were guided by excellent and very informative volunteers. All was in order and in an excellent state of preservation. A great place to visit.
Written 23 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your kind review. Really pleased you enjoyed your visit. Our team of hard working volunteers worked flat out to bring steam back to Crofton in June. We hope to steam again in August and September.
Written 24 July 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Traveller 53 Wiltshire
Wiltshire252 contributions
Sept 2023 • Couples
Went on the off chance and when I saw the car park empty I thought they might be closed but they were open!.. we had the place to ourselves and were given the most interesting guided tour by Dave.. Dave was passionate about this place and it really comes across.. He took the time to tell us the subtle differences between the two beams. This is the oldest working static steam powered beam engine in it's original housing in the world!!.. I felt lucky to be able to see it and hear an expert explaining it. Fantastic!
Written 3 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Francis M
New Milton, UK16 contributions
Apr 2022 • Couples
Visited today Easter Sunday. Surprised to see on TA that’s it’s closed. It was open and working! If your interested in how clever our ancestors were this is the place to go. The sheer size of the engines and their complexity is mind blowing. The volunteer staff were excellent and knowledgeable. The displays were informative and clearly laid out. The technology timescale chart was excellent. It enabled one to appreciate how early this technology went back to and how early this pumping station was. The listing of technologies and events up to the present day put the whole thing into perspective. All in all an excellent visit to a fascinating piece of working history.
Written 18 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John O
Portsmouth, UK146 contributions
Aug 2021
Extremely interesting. A little out of the way but worth the narrow lane(s) to get there. Very good volunteer staff. Gardens free, pump house modest entrance fee. Layout and interpretation boards very good. Could really do with tea and coffee. Very glad I went.
Written 22 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David
Weyhill, UK44 contributions
Sept 2024 • Couples
The Engines are amazing , especially at night. The Staff were amazing all except for the very rude smoking lady at the entrance. The engine staff were first rate, and the Astronomy lecture very interesting.
we had a Pizza from the mobile Pizza van, sadly this was pretty poor, we chose a Margherita which was tasteless. Fortunately the engines made up for it.
we had a Pizza from the mobile Pizza van, sadly this was pretty poor, we chose a Margherita which was tasteless. Fortunately the engines made up for it.
Written 1 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your kind comments about Crofton Beam Engines and our evening Astronomy event. Our volunteers work hard to keep our engines working so that everyone can enjoy the incredible engineering on display at Crofton.
We are sorry that one of volunteers was rude and have undertaken some re-training with our front of house volunteers. Our independent
Pizza supplier usually has excellent ratings and again we are sorry that on this occasion your Pizza did not live up to your expectations.
I hope that you will visit us again next steaming season which starts in April 2025.
Written 25 October 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Graham B
Devizes, UK41,460 contributions
Jul 2012 • Couples
The Kennet & Avon canal approaches its summit between Burbage and Crofton.
This presented it's designer and engineer John Rennie with another critical problem: water supply. Initially, he considered tunnelling for 2.5 miles beneath the hills at a height of 410 feet, at the same level as the nearest river, but in those days such an engineering feat would be riddled with problems and uncertainties, as well as being very expensive. The cheaper alternative was to raise the summit level by 40 feet, which would, however, lift the navigation that same amount higher than any reliable local water supply.
Rennie solved this problem with the construction of a pumping station at Crofton in 1807, one mile to the east of the summit at the nearest water source. This station raised the water to slightly higher than the canal summit level, delivering it via a specially built feeder channel called a leat. This ultimately saved around £41,000, a vast amount by any standards in those days.
Into this station was installed a second-hand Boulton and Watt engine, which Rennie purchased from the West India Dock Company in 1802 and was up and running in 1809. Two engines could be accommodated in the house, and in 1810, a second Boulton and Watt was ordered and installed in 1812. Water for the huge boilers was supplied from the springs at Wilton to the well on site. The pumps raised the water 40 feet and discharged it into the "leat" to be delivered to the summit.
By 1836, traffic on the canal had increased and the water supply was no longer adequate so a man-made 8-acre lake was formed by damming the valley opposite the pumping station. The water ran over a weir into the engine pound of the canal and then through the culvert to the well.
As with the rest of the canal, the station fell into disrepair after closure in the early 1900s and in 1968, was purchased by the K&A Canal Trust from British Waterways for £75. An appeal was launched with the objective of restoring the entire station to full working order. In 1970, the Harvey engine from Hayle in Cornwall (which had replaced one of the Boulton and Watt’s in 1846) was successfully fired and now, regular "steam days" are on the itinerary.
Crofton is an essential part of the history of this marvellous waterway.
This presented it's designer and engineer John Rennie with another critical problem: water supply. Initially, he considered tunnelling for 2.5 miles beneath the hills at a height of 410 feet, at the same level as the nearest river, but in those days such an engineering feat would be riddled with problems and uncertainties, as well as being very expensive. The cheaper alternative was to raise the summit level by 40 feet, which would, however, lift the navigation that same amount higher than any reliable local water supply.
Rennie solved this problem with the construction of a pumping station at Crofton in 1807, one mile to the east of the summit at the nearest water source. This station raised the water to slightly higher than the canal summit level, delivering it via a specially built feeder channel called a leat. This ultimately saved around £41,000, a vast amount by any standards in those days.
Into this station was installed a second-hand Boulton and Watt engine, which Rennie purchased from the West India Dock Company in 1802 and was up and running in 1809. Two engines could be accommodated in the house, and in 1810, a second Boulton and Watt was ordered and installed in 1812. Water for the huge boilers was supplied from the springs at Wilton to the well on site. The pumps raised the water 40 feet and discharged it into the "leat" to be delivered to the summit.
By 1836, traffic on the canal had increased and the water supply was no longer adequate so a man-made 8-acre lake was formed by damming the valley opposite the pumping station. The water ran over a weir into the engine pound of the canal and then through the culvert to the well.
As with the rest of the canal, the station fell into disrepair after closure in the early 1900s and in 1968, was purchased by the K&A Canal Trust from British Waterways for £75. An appeal was launched with the objective of restoring the entire station to full working order. In 1970, the Harvey engine from Hayle in Cornwall (which had replaced one of the Boulton and Watt’s in 1846) was successfully fired and now, regular "steam days" are on the itinerary.
Crofton is an essential part of the history of this marvellous waterway.
Written 14 October 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
S & G
6 contributions
Aug 2019
Due to a pre arranged tour for some Australian visitors we enjoyed the steam working machines. The steam days are not everyday. Do check their website.We had our picnic with our two granddaughters before a walk along the canal until we could do the tour ourselves. The volunteers had good information on the beam engine for pumping water. A pleasant café served lunches or afternoon teas. There are also very clean toilets. Our time being over 4hrs was due to the walk & picnic..
Written 26 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your kind remarks and pleased to hear you enjoyed your visit. Thank you too for your kind comments about our cafe and toilets which were good to hear. Please do come back and see us again, you will be very welcome.
Written 8 September 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Lucy F
Reading, UK29 contributions
Aug 2019 • Solo
This place is a little gem in the country. I googled things to do in the area and this came up. I arrived for the 11am tour which lasted about 60 minutes and was very informative. The price is also good value. Once you have done the tour there isn't much else to do, but a good place to picnic or walk along the canal whilst there. The car park near by is £1 for 2 hours which was fine for the tour and a quick wander around.
Written 23 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your review and it's great to hear you enjoyed your visit! Come back again one day, you will be very welcome!
Written 24 August 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Crofton_Manager
Marlborough, United Kingdom
Dogs are welcome in the grounds but only access dogs are allowed inside.
Written 6 May 2018
We visited you on a non-steaming day and my husband was enthralled. Can you tell me the difference between a steaming weekend and the gala steaming weekend, please? I'm sure he would enjoy that even more. I was surprised that you didn't address this question on your website because for visitors who have to travel long distances, it's quite a relevant question. Many thanks.
Written 31 July 2016
Crofton_Manager
Marlborough, United Kingdom
Many thanks for your question. Our steaming days feature the Beam Engines in full operation with members of our team stationed at several points to explain the machinery and history. There is a charge to see the engines, but the grounds and cafe entrance are free. The Steam Gala is an annual event which has the engines in steam but also additional entertainment and activities and there is a charge to enter the grounds on this occasion. We also open six days per week April-October when the engines are not in steam and on these occasions timed guided tours are offered - please see our website for further details.
Written 6 May 2018
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