Lichfield Waterworks Trust is appealing for public support to help restore movement to a remarkable piece of Victorian engineering at Sandfields Pumping Station.
The Trust’s dedicated team of volunteers has been working tirelessly to renovate the historic site and is now aiming to raise £5,000 to fund the specialist materials and external engineering support needed to get the iconic Victorian Cornish Beam Engine moving again — nearly 100 years after it last operated.
A unique piece of industrial heritage
Lichfield Waterworks Trust exists to preserve and develop Sandfields Pumping Station and share its fascinating history. At the heart of the site is a rare Victorian beam engine — one of only four surviving examples in the UK.
Built by Jonah & George Davies of Tipton and installed in 1873, the engine played a vital role during the Industrial Revolution. For around 50 years, it pumped clean water to the Black Country, helping to combat outbreaks of cholera and significantly improve public health.
The engine was taken out of service in 1927 and has remained static ever since. While volunteers have the skills and expertise to prepare the engine for restoration, funding is needed to purchase specialist materials and bring in expert external engineering support to restore movement safely.
Why restoring movement matters
Getting the beam engine moving again would transform Sandfields Pumping Station in several important ways.
A working engine would greatly enhance the visitor experience, allowing people to see Victorian engineering in action rather than as a static exhibit. This would help attract more visitors and generate vital income to support further restoration work.
The scale of the engine is impressive. The main beam measures 36 feet (10.97 metres) in length and weighs 20 tonnes. When operational, it will reciprocate 14 times a minute, just as it did in the 19th century. Seeing such a vast structure move again would be a powerful and memorable experience.
Restoring the engine would also strengthen the Trust’s educational offer, helping local schoolchildren learn about the Industrial Revolution, public health and the development of modern water supplies.
Increased visitor numbers would also benefit the wider area, encouraging people to spend more time in Lichfield and support local businesses.
How you can help
With public support, this extraordinary piece of history can be brought back to life. Every donation will help move the project closer to seeing the beam engine operate once more, nearly a century after it last moved.
People are encouraged to contribute to the Trust’s CrowdFunder appeal at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/lichfield-waterworks-trust-1160876
Your support will help keep Lichfield’s industrial heritage alive for future generations.
