Whenever the river flooded so did the channel and wheelhouse, with the result that the pumping engine was temporarily out of action. At these times the village could not have its automatic supply and so reverted to the use of hand pumps set over wells. This situation was remedied in the early s when a gazebo-style brick engine house with a motor-pump was built nearby, to take over in an emergency.
In the 19 th century, a similar pumping engine was built alongside the river Cheswold, now piped underground and running beneath the north bus station now the interchange. The pumping house was above ground level and had an exterior waterwheel. Water was pumped through pipes to a large tank at Hall Cross Hill from where the town was supplied with water by natural gravitation. In effect, this was the same method used to work the fountain from the tank on top of Sprotbrough Hall.
Although the hall was demolished in , the water pumping engine was still in use for some years afterwards to supply the village. The fountain, however, had disappeared by the early part of this 20 th century and how much earlier than that is not known.
England's Lost Country Houses | Sprotbrough Hall
Its full glory was captured for posterity in a 17 th century print which is now in the British Museum. I wonder if the Sprotbrough Preservation Society will finally succeed in preserving what little is left of the pump house or will it slowly fall deeper into disrepair and have to be filled in for public safety? I sincerely hope that it can be preserved for future generations.
If you would like to register your interest in the latest phase of the project or if you think that you can help in any way then please contact me and I will pass your details onto Bernard Pearson of the Preservation Society. Don Valley Way project teaser. Graham Jenkinson Been for a walk from the lock towards doncaster, Have always wondered what the old pump was for, It is much clearer now all the ivy and brush wood has been cleared.
Thank you for all the information on this website which explains everything I will now be able to get a nights sleep. An interesting and informative article which adds to the information often quoted about this early pumping engine. Pity it does not refer to the fact that it was initially designed and installed by Derby Engineer George Sorocold.
You are commenting using your WordPress. You are commenting using your Twitter account. The river is seen winding its course through the valley; on the one side are green fields and hills, advancing here and retiring there; and on the other side high cliffs and rocks, crowned everywhere with the richest foliage, cottages of the peasantry and an old mill occupy the foreground, and a delightful murmur from the water flowing over the breakwater or wash.
A bridge too, is now added to the scene, and contributes no little to the very pleasing variety of the view. The gardens are extensive and full of variety and interest, and the walk in the wood immediately under them may be put in rivalship with those of note in the country. In the midst of the grounds stands a Wych Elm Tree, whose gigantic height and vast circumference ranks it among the largest in England and affords a home for the feathered tribe who here warble their sweet notes without molestation.
The trunk of this tree is about twenty feet around, and the boughs five hundred, and it is in a perfectly healthy state, I believe this to be the tree now standing within the grounds of the Methodist church on the corner of Brompton road. The old Hall was built nearer to the church than the present one, and was taken down about the year The one which now is was then erected, raised as it is on a commanding terrace.
It consists of a main body, nearly square, three stories in height, with two wings, and is said to have been built after a model of a wing in the palace of Versailles. The position too as regards the country around it is very striking; far from the new terrace at the bottom of the garden the ground drops almost perpendicularly to the river, so that the hall stands high above the beautiful foliage which covers this declivity and the effect from the Warmsworth side of the river is similar. For more information on the interior of the hall click here. Now to the bridge over the river.
The following is taken from the Doncaster Gazette on the occasion of laying the first stone:. The bridge will be placed twelve feet above the level of the meadow, and consists of altogether, seven arches; three land arches at each side of twenty feet span; and a centre one of one hundred feet span.
The road is then continued over a meadow adjoining the Corn Mill. The bridge above the river Dun will be a little more than three hundred feet long; having, on each side, a stone parapet, with the exception of the centre arch, whose sides will be protected by cast-iron palisades, upon which will be placed the coat of arms of the liberal donor; built of stone, with the exception of the middle arch which is of wood.
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The style of architecture of the bridge is Grecian, and the stone work will be pitch-faced ashlar, with quoins, and stringing of dressed ashlar; — altogether forming quite a rustic appearance. The view from the bridge will be quite imposing; both up and down the stream, and will be remarkably picturesque. In the distance we have the bold outline of the cliff at Levitt hagg, and the line of the South Yorkshire Railway, flanked on each side with luxuriant woods, — first Sprotbrough plantings, then Pot Riddings, and opposite Butterbusk wood, and Conisbrough cliff, with the stream in the centre and the cascade at the old wash.
This new approach to the Hall is most justly looked upon as one of the greatest improvements made upon the property. Nothing can be better executed than the work at the entrance, consisting of a lodge in the style of the Hall, with bronze gates for carriages and foot passengers, these latter retiring from the road in the segment of a circle.
The Rectory, in the village, contains every comfort a person need desire. The following is a list of rectors from the year The village contains a very superior inn; it was generally known as the Sprotbrough Boat, but since then it has been rebuilt as the Copley Arms. During the summer season it is frequented by those who enjoy a ramble in the country.
Sprotbrough Pumping Engine
The view from the window is singularly pretty. Here parties meet and walk through the varied scenery, plucking bouquets from the innumerable wild flowers which are thrown around in such profusion. Afterwards, we might retire to the Boat Inn the Copley Arms for a relaxing drink just the same as visitors were doing years ago. You are commenting using your WordPress. You are commenting using your Twitter account.
Sir John FitzWilliam of Sprotborough, who died in had a cosiderable family, and from the youngest of his six sons, John, who lived at Milton, are descended the present Earls FitzWilliam. When Sir William FitzWilliam, the descendant of the senior branch of the family died in he had no direct heirs, and it was eventually decided in the courts that Sprotbrough should go to his aunt, Dorothy FitzWilliam, the wife of Sir William Copley of Batley, near Halifax.
Though failures in the direct line have been frequent, relatives have always been found to succeed, and in one case the heir took the name in lieu of his own.
Sir Godfrey, the first baronet, procured his title at the Restoration, although he had been a young man and his father dead at the time of the Civil Wars. This second Sir Godfrey differed from his father in most respects. The father, though, as we said, a young man of 20 in , yet took no part for King or Parliament, and seems from his later life to have been one of those mild, easy-going people who adorn rather than advance society.
His son on the other hand was a man of considerable energy, as was testified by his behaviour on his fathers death in , when he was High Sheriff. Sir John Reresby, a Yorkshireman, was the first to hear in London of old Sir Godfreys death; for it was the son who wrote to him, with the pressing request that he should speak to his kinsman, Lord Danby, at that time Lord Treasurer, to get the King to continue the son in that office for the remainder of the year. I was forced to stay to watch his return until 10 at night, and prevailed on His Lordship to go that night to the King lest others should get before us.
For which trouble I had but a very indifferent return, as the sequel will show. Had Sir John been better acquainted with the character of Sir Godfrey, he would have been less prompt to assist him, for Sir Godfrey had all the qualities that make for success in this world. Above all he had an inflexible sense of duty, the duty to himself, which he suffered no consideration of gratitude or family connection to affect.
The following year, therefore, which succeeded the confusion of the Popish plot, Copley opposed Reresby in the small borough of Aldborough, which was in the Wentworth interest. In , Sir Godfrey, M. Thus Copley amassed a considerable fortune, and in we find him abroad, in Paris, where his eldest son was born.
Sir Godfrey, at this time, conceived a taste for French things, and, returning to Sprotborough on Christmas eve, in time to celebrate his last Christmas in the old house, he forthwith demolished the previous building beyond possibility of discovery, and began the present edifice. It is improbable that Sir Godfrey was inspired by any particular specimen of French architecture, and the tradition that the house is a copy of a wing at Versailles can not be corroborated by fact.
These, confused in the mind of the Master Mason with English Carolean tradition, combined to produce Sprotborough. Again, the slightly projecting piers in which the windows are set were as yet uncommon in England, while the 2 turrets in the angles of the wings are of French suggestion. Very uncommon are the 2 large area courts between the wings and the main block.
A comparison of the north front and the south front will at once show the purpose of the basement for they are built on different levels a hill. There, however, the basement does not form, as is usual in houses of this date built on a slope, a ground floor, but is concealed by a wall and hedge, with the result that the house appears to stand higher than in reality it does from this aspect.