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| HER Number | MWB20988 |
|---|
| Record Type | Monument |
|---|
| Name | Pump on old London to Bath Road, The Green, Theale |
|---|
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
Two pumps are marked 'P' on the Second Edition Ordnance Survey mapping <1>, but not on the First <2>, on the south side of the Bath Road near Theale Green. One is at c SU 63497 70919 and the other at SU 63533 70945. There is no further record of these on later historic Ordnance Survey maps, but a water pump at SU 634 709 was recorded as derelict in 1967 by the Berkshire Industrial Archaeology Group <3>:
'Cast iron pump at side of Bath Road, A4. Fine moulded shaft 6" in diameter, head 9" in diameter. Pump 7'6" above ground, standing on 9" x 9" cast iron base. Cap missing. Lever arm & pump rods missing. Spout 3" in diameter, projects 10", has bucket lug. Whole structure cracked.'
The structure 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 <4>. It was reported to have been removed in the later 20th century. However a pump is visible on Streetview and on a website of village pumps, on the south side of The Green outside Stoneleigh Court <5>.
The pump was added to the Local List of Heritage Assets in August 2019 <6>.
Sources and further reading
| <01> | Landmark. 1899-1900. Digital Ordnance Survey Mapping Epoch 2, 1:2500 (25 inch). Digital. 1:2500. [Map / SWB14455] |
| <02> | Landmark. 1872-85. Digital Ordnance Survey Mapping Epoch 1, 1:2500 (25 inch). Digital. 1:2500. [Map / SWB14341] |
| <03> | Berkshire Industrial Archaeology Group. 1966-1991. Berkshire Industrial Archaeology Group Gazetteer of Industrial Sites & Monuments. 2023 WBC Network. OG205. [Unpublished document / SWB12762] |
| <04> | Phillips, D. 1983. The Great Road to Bath. p61-4. [Monograph / SWB147800] |
| <05> | Williams, R K. 2006-present. Village Pumps. http://www.villagepumps.org.uk/. theale. [Website / SWB149394]
http://www.villagepumps.org.uk/pumpsWBerks.htm (Accessed 17/05/2018) |
| <06> | West Berkshire Council. 2015-. West Berkshire District Council in partnership with the West Berkshire Heritage Forum - Local List of Heritage Assets. pdf online. 19/00011/LOCAL. [Unpublished document / SWB148860]
https://info.westberks.gov.uk/locallist (Accessed on 01/06/2022) |
Related Monuments
| MWB5909 | A4 BATH ROAD - General Record (Monument) |
| MWB18081 | Pump on Bath Road, Benham Hill (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) |
Associated Excavations and Fieldwork
| EWB176 | Berkshire Industrial Archaeology Group Survey |
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