Newcomen Engine

Whilst out and about with fellow Flickrite, Tom Swailes, we spotted this building and were both struck by how much it resembled a colliery pumping enginehouse. It soon became apparent that it was indeed a colliery building that had probably housed an atmospheric beam pumping engine of the Newcomen type.

It is actually a three storey structure built against a bank so that only two are visible on this side. Closer inspection of the stonework reveals that the long window is situated in what was a much larger space through which the beam projected. The lean-to structure under the beam wall is a modern addition. There is a stump of a chimney at the corner of the building, just in front of the white chimneystack of the adjacent cottage. The shaft was 215 ft deep and has been filled and capped by the Coal Authority a few years ago. More research is needed to try to discover where the outlet tunnel emerged lower down the hill.

Tom was also able to find an advert for the sale of an engine from this colliery in 1834. I am fairly certain that it relates to this building. The description was:

"Atmospheric STEAM ENGINE, the cylinder 44 inches diameter, new oak beam, with cast iron arch heads, and works a seven feet stroke; 36 yards 2 feet of 12 inch pump trees with pump rods complete, 39 yards 7 inch ditto, ditto one boiler, 26 horses power, in excellent condition; one ditto, 20 ditto, ditto; new oak head geering over pit and new eapstone and rope; one windlas and rope."