British Waterways take Claverton Pumping Station back from canal trust

The historic water powered  pumping station at Claverton on the Kennet & Avon Canal that was designed by John Rennie has a secure future now that British Waterways has taken it back from the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust. 

Claverton Pumping Station: Picture by Bob Naylor

The Trust had been running the pumping station since 1978 when Trust volunteers and students from Bath University completed a 10-year restoration project.

Now more than 30 years on the water wheel is in need of extensive restoration work that the K&A Canal Trust was unable to finance because of its shaky financial position.

Mark Stephens the Waterway Manager and Pete Dunn the Chairman of the Claverton Pumping Station Group have come up with a rescue plan that will mean that the team at Claverton will follow the example another K&ACT team, the Avon Vale Group, and they will volunteer directly for British Waterways.

British Waterways will fund all of the materials for the restoration and Pete Dunn and his team will provide skills and voluntary labour to bring it back to full working order. 

The machinery will be 200 years old in 2013 and the aim is to have it pumping water to the canal by then which will make a huge saving on electricity costs.

Pete Dunn said: "During the year-long restoration Claverton will be open to the public on the normal open days and the progress and processes of the restoration will be on view."

For more information about Claverton Pumping Station go to their website at: http://www.claverton.org

Open days for 2012
The pumping station is open to the public every Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday (except Friday 6th April and Tuesday 5th June) from March 31st until October 28th inclusive

Opening Hours
Wednesdays: 10am until 4pm (last admission 3:30pm)
Other open days 10am until 5pm (last admission 4:30pm)
Admission: £3
Children under 16 are admitted free, but all children must be accompanied by an adult