| Until
the 17th century Fenland was mostly a vast marshy
swamp with some islands of higher ground - such as
the Isle of Ely. In 1630 the Earl of Bedford employed
the Dutch engineer Vermuyden to drain the southern
Fenland in order to create land for agriculture. The
drained soil then exposed to the air was mostly composed
of peat which began to shrink and waste, and the ground
level fell. Over the years it became necessary to
pump rainwater from the fields up into the rivers
which had remained at the pre-drainage levels.
At
first, windmills driving large scoop wheels were used
which pushed and lifted up the low-lying water. As
land levels shrank further and further even the windmills
could not deal with the height of lift required (in
places the fen is now some 6 metres below river level).
Fortunately the invention of the powerful steam engine
arrived in the nick of time. The Old Engine at Stretham
was one of over one hundred steam pumping engines
installed throughout the Fens and which replaced some
800 windmills in the 1800's. In times of heavy rains
and danger of floods, farmers were reassured to see
smoke belching from its tall brick chimney and so
to know that the Old Engine was at work in its slow
but effective fashion, lifting the waters.
 The
Old Engine was installed in 1831 and laboured successfully
until 1925, and was used as a stand-by until 1941.
It was then superseded by a more convenient and efficient
diesel engine connected to a centrifugal pump. In
1945 the diesel engine was itself superseded by another
pumping station, now electrically powered, located
some one and a half miles to the southeast on the
bank of the River Cam.
It
is not practical now to operate the Old Engine by
steam, so an electrical drive has been installed to
enable the manner of its former operation to be demonstrated
on the days when the Engine is open to the public.
Displays about the
history and development of land drainage and its
machinery are shown in the Engine Room.
Principal
Events at the Stretham Old Engine
1741 Waterbeach
Level constituted by Act of Parliament.
1814 John Rennie reported on his survey of the drainage.
1829 Mr.Glynn invited to decide best situation for
engine. (This station rests on a bed of hard gravel
so no piling was required).
1831 Contract for engine, boiler and scoopwheel
awarded to Mr.Glynn.
1831 Contract for building brickwork of engine house
awarded to Mr.Briggs.
1847 Third boiler installed.
1850 New scoopwheel fitted 33 feet in diameter.
1871 Two original boilers renewed.
1878 Third boiler renewed.
1892 Crankshaft replaced.
1896 New scoopwheel, 37 feet in diameter.
1925 Mirrlees diesel started work driving a Gwynnes
centrifugal pump. (Their pumping ability was three
times that of the steam engine and scoopwheel).
1941 Steam engine last used
1947 Mirrlees diesel and the Station relegated to
standby duties.
1958 Preservation appeal for the engine on T.V by
L.E.Harris.
1959 Stretham Engine Preservation Trust formed.
1966 Mirrlees diesel last worked.
1969 Electricity driven pump placed near Bottisham
Lock pumping into the River Cam
1988 Stretham Engine Trust formed and a new 99 year
lease obtained from the Waterbeach Level Internal
Drainage Board.
1989 National appeal for funds.
1993 Phase 1 of renovation works.
1996 Electrical drive fitted to flywheel of the
steam engine. |
