It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument with two completely original pumping engines in full working order. These are displayed running under their pumping load five weekends each year. One engine is a two-cylinder compound steam Beam Engine, still supplied from its original Lancashire boilers and driving its original pumps. The other engine is a two-cylinder Gas Engine, the largest preserved example in Europe, also driving its original pumps.
The site also retains the Electric Pumps, initially installed in 1926 although no longer working.
Therefore we exhibit the three generations of pumping technology, steam powered Beam Engine, gas powered Gas Engine and the Electric pumps.
The engines are housed in their own purpose built buildings, dating from 1847 to 1901, in themselves superb examples of Victorian architecture. The engines and buildings are carefully maintained, preserved and run by volunteers, supported by the site owner, Northumbrian Water.
