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| HER Number | MWB18081 |
|---|
| Record Type | Monument |
|---|
| Name | Pump on Bath Road, Benham Hill |
|---|
Summary
Locally listed cast iron water pump, probably of late 18th century date, used for keeping down dust on the road
Monument Type(s):
Full Description
This pump is marked 'P' on the First Edition Ordnance Survey mapping <1>, in between Newbury and Thatcham on the south side of the Bath Road by the road later called Lower Way. The pump exists in the 21st century. It was probably one of a chain of water pumps put along the Bath Road at the end of the 18th century for watering the roads to keep the dust down <2>.
A similar cast iron pump in Calcot Row (MWB5966) is listed at Grade II. The Bath Road structure was locally listed in 2017 <5> along with three other similar cast iron pumps located along the A4 in Thatcham. Its location at the junction of the London Road and Benham Hill has altered since the Second Epoch Ordnance Survey mapping <6>, moving eastwards from c SU 49371 67496 to c SU 49407 67491, presumably in connection with road improvements. It is partially buried.
Sources and further reading
| <01> | Landmark. 1872-85. Digital Ordnance Survey Mapping Epoch 1, 1:2500 (25 inch). Digital. 1:2500. [Map / SWB14341] |
| <02> | Phillips, D. 1983. The Great Road to Bath. p61-4. [Monograph / SWB147800] |
| <03> | Berkshire Industrial Archaeology Group. 1966-1991. Berkshire Industrial Archaeology Group Gazetteer of Industrial Sites & Monuments. 2023 WBC Network. OG198. [Unpublished document / SWB12762] |
| <04> | Harper, C G. 1899. The Bath Road - History, Fashion & Frivolity on an Old Highway. [Monograph / SWB148582]
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/37921/37921-h/37921-h.htm (Accessed 03/01/2014) |
| <05> | West Berkshire Council. 2015-. West Berkshire District Council in partnership with the West Berkshire Heritage Forum - Local List of Heritage Assets. pdf online. 16/00015/LOCAL. [Unpublished document / SWB148860]
https://info.westberks.gov.uk/locallist (Accessed on 01/06/2022) |
| <06> | Landmark. 1899-1900. Digital Ordnance Survey Mapping Epoch 2, 1:2500 (25 inch). Digital. 1:2500. Marked 'P'. [Map / SWB14455] |
Related Monuments
| MWB5909 | A4 BATH ROAD - General Record (Monument) |
| MWB5966 | Pump on Bath Road, Calcot Row (Monument) |
| MWB18083 | Pump on Bath Road, east of Bluecoat School (Monument) |
| MWB18084 | Pump on Bath Road, south of Siegecross Farm (Monument) |
| MWB18082 | Pump on Bath Road, west of Thatcham, near Pound Lane (Monument) |
| MWB20988 | Pump on old London to Bath Road, The Green, Theale (Monument) |
Associated Excavations and Fieldwork
| EWB176 | Berkshire Industrial Archaeology Group Survey |
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