Geoff Wheeler 1935 Fantastic, I was born &lived 500 yards fro the start of the Basingstoke canal, The council were filling the canal in from Eastrop lane towards Old Basing, but there were still some lock gates in place at what was then known as "Dead mans Lane" ,which is now at the end of the Riverdene estate. This was our playground climbing trees etc 1939/ 1943 I went on a weeks camping with the local St Johns Ambulance cadets at Nately Scures in what was the old brick fields, the canal still had water in it then(1948) Great series well done Geoff
I last went there about 20 years ago and I'm pleased to see it's barely changed, although there seems to be a bit less foilage. Wasn't able to look inside though. As far as I'm aware and as someone else has already mentioned, I believe this was all part of the Hackwood Estate's sophisticated water management system for the area, supporting fish ponds to the south as well as water supplies for the estate. The cress beds are a much more recent addition
Thank you for sharing this. My Great great Grandfather and his family lived and worked in the Pumping House in Basingstoke between the late 1870s and turn of the century. I always wondered what it was- perhaps this is where they lived. His name was George Wilson and he lived there with his wife and 8 children, sadly his wife and all but 2 of the children died young. My great grandmother Eva was the youngest child and she survived.
Hi Ruth, fabulous, a living link to this wonderful building. You'll be pleased to know that we have managed to secure scheduled status on it, which means it should be protected for the foreseeable future.
The 1881 census states that he was an engine driver at the pumping station on Basing Road. I see on your map that there is a building close by. Is that where the family lived? Is it still there today? As an engine driver, what engine would he be driving? the gears, wheels and pumps that you are filming?
@@ruthgoury8966 curious. There's a house very close by called Swing Bridge cottage, named after the bridge which crossed the canal just a few feet from the pumphouse. As for engine driver, I have no idea. The gearing in the pumphouse would have been worked by the waterwheel inside.
@@PASTFINDERexploring I really hope so as i can see there is not a chance that the canal can be reopened the last five miles unless by a different route to Basingstoke!
I’d love to see this restored or at least preserved and treated with some tlc, maybe as a visitor attraction to the area, as other things have been. Beautiful engineering in those gears and mounts, all that skill. Great film again, more please…
I have received via facebook, 2 potential reasons for the pump engine being built. 1, It fed water to the water Cress beds which were scattered all around. 2, It pumped fresh spring water to the the nearby Hackwood estate and Home Farm, Both plausible theories.
That's always a double edged sword , of course interested people will go but as you'll find from those channels that explore old houses they've stopped giving locations because inevitability they'd get vandalised........
Thanks, It appears that there is a movement in place to at least shedule the building with the intention to at least keep it intact. The traffic cone dates from 1867.
The tunnel itself is a curiosity. Was it constructed at the same time, or later, to allow heavy carts access to the marshlands, to harvest some plant growing there, the Watercress, perhaps? The tunnel is not, as you note, contiguous with the "Pumping Engine," but is found some forty to fifty yards northwest of the former.
@@maynardmckillen9228 I love the tunnel, it exudes atmosphere. The pump engine is probably dated to late 18th century but the tunnel is probably Victorian. Your explanation re heavy carts is probably correct as it's still very marshy today.
Excellent video of the pump house, and what a beautiful machine that was, and definitely should be restored. At 7.50 you can clearly see that the gearing and pump are mounted on an elegant cast iron entablature with tapered iron legs and decorative detail in the ironwork of the horizontal top beams which carry the bearings for the top gearwheel. I would suggest that it is a piston type pump with the pump being driven from a crank from the top gear wheel. Sad to see it in this condition, but cast iron items usually restore well as they don't rust away like steel does. Your telescopic pole was marvelous for letting us see the detail inside. Great video.........
Thanks for your kind comments. There is actually a preservation attempt in progress by the Basingstoke Historical society, so let's hope they are successful.
amazing find l discovered it only last year after living here 50 years what a gem l couldn't get as much as you did only the wheel very interesting building thank you for sharing the parts l couldn't see l,ve only ever heard the 2 theories you mention further down in the comments wouldn't it be great fully restored !
We see the water wheel by peering through a window or portal. Is there a similar window on the opposite side of the building, one that offers a view of the pump, or the spot where it was once mounted?
A handful of vertical "rods," which appear to be metallic, are visible on the opposite/far side of those large gears. Could they be connected to a crankshaft? And has any keen local historian uncovered a photo of the building in its heyday?
Hi Maynard. It's highly possible they could be attached to a shaft. Not been able to find any historic photo's but is the subject of a scheduling attempt by the Basingstoke Historical society.
Geoff Wheeler 1935 Fantastic, I was born &lived 500 yards fro the start of the Basingstoke canal, The council were filling the canal in from Eastrop lane towards Old Basing, but there were still some lock gates in place at what was then known as "Dead mans Lane" ,which is now at the end of the Riverdene estate. This was our playground climbing trees etc 1939/ 1943 I went on a weeks camping with the local St Johns Ambulance cadets at Nately Scures in what was the old brick fields, the canal still had water in it then(1948) Great series well done Geoff
@@phylliswheeler6634 Hi Geoff, great memories. I wonder how many old relics are still there buried.
It's amazing to me that this place hasn't been restored. The gears are so lovely. Even if not in operation, it's a beautiful piece of history.
I last went there about 20 years ago and I'm pleased to see it's barely changed, although there seems to be a bit less foilage. Wasn't able to look inside though. As far as I'm aware and as someone else has already mentioned, I believe this was all part of the Hackwood Estate's sophisticated water management system for the area, supporting fish ponds to the south as well as water supplies for the estate. The cress beds are a much more recent addition
Nice video and beautiful places, sir. I like it!😀
Cracking film, what a hidden gem.
Fantastic, thank you for sharing. I had no idea it existed. Looking forward to taking a closer look. It really does need to be preserved.
Excellent vid. Noticed it some time ago on an 1875 map. Never imagined there would be so much left. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for sharing this. My Great great Grandfather and his family lived and worked in the Pumping House in Basingstoke between the late 1870s and turn of the century. I always wondered what it was- perhaps this is where they lived. His name was George Wilson and he lived there with his wife and 8 children, sadly his wife and all but 2 of the children died young. My great grandmother Eva was the youngest child and she survived.
Hi Ruth, fabulous, a living link to this wonderful building. You'll be pleased to know that we have managed to secure scheduled status on it, which means it should be protected for the foreseeable future.
Wonderful. @@PASTFINDERexploring
The 1881 census states that he was an engine driver at the pumping station on Basing Road. I see on your map that there is a building close by. Is that where the family lived? Is it still there today? As an engine driver, what engine would he be driving? the gears, wheels and pumps that you are filming?
@@ruthgoury8966 curious. There's a house very close by called Swing Bridge cottage, named after the bridge which crossed the canal just a few feet from the pumphouse. As for engine driver, I have no idea. The gearing in the pumphouse would have been worked by the waterwheel inside.
The Pumping House must be preserved and protected as a valuable asset.
Hi Geoff, I believe that the Basingstoke Heritage society have plans which will introduce some kind of scheduling/preservation.
@@PASTFINDERexploring I really hope so as i can see there is not a chance that the canal can be reopened the last five miles unless by a different route to Basingstoke!
I’d love to see this restored or at least preserved and treated with some tlc, maybe as a visitor attraction to the area, as other things have been. Beautiful engineering in those gears and mounts, all that skill.
Great film again, more please…
There is a movement in place to at least schedule it. At least it will have a better chance of preservation if that happens.
I have received via facebook, 2 potential reasons for the pump engine being built. 1, It fed water to the water Cress beds which were scattered all around. 2, It pumped fresh spring water to the the nearby Hackwood estate and Home Farm, Both plausible theories.
i've heard that it feed the old fish pond at hackwood house, via the upper and lower fish ponds in carb tree.
Finally found this hidden gem, it took a while. Hopefully I will be bringing a vid out soon showing how to find it.
That's always a double edged sword , of course interested people will go but as you'll find from those channels that explore old houses they've stopped giving locations because inevitability they'd get vandalised........
Fantastic,, didn't realise traffic cones were that old either,, shame not restored.
Thanks, It appears that there is a movement in place to at least shedule the building with the intention to at least keep it intact. The traffic cone dates from 1867.
Isn’t the traffic cone an absolute must in any historic location? 😂🤣
@@grenfellroad8394 Maybe they are a mark of quality!
Fascinating, knew of the tunnel, but not the pump house, I shall be taking a look, thanks for posting.
Thanks Joe, pleasure
The tunnel itself is a curiosity. Was it constructed at the same time, or later, to allow heavy carts access to the marshlands, to harvest some plant growing there, the Watercress, perhaps? The tunnel is not, as you note, contiguous with the "Pumping Engine," but is found some forty to fifty yards northwest of the former.
@@maynardmckillen9228 I love the tunnel, it exudes atmosphere. The pump engine is probably dated to late 18th century but the tunnel is probably Victorian. Your explanation re heavy carts is probably correct as it's still very marshy today.
Excellent video of the pump house, and what a beautiful machine that was, and definitely should be restored. At 7.50 you can clearly see that the gearing and pump are mounted on an elegant cast iron entablature with tapered iron legs and decorative detail in the ironwork of the horizontal top beams which carry the bearings for the top gearwheel. I would suggest that it is a piston type pump with the pump being driven from a crank from the top gear wheel. Sad to see it in this condition, but cast iron items usually restore well as they don't rust away like steel does.
Your telescopic pole was marvelous for letting us see the detail inside. Great video.........
Thanks for your kind comments. There is actually a preservation attempt in progress by the Basingstoke Historical society, so let's hope they are successful.
That is really excellent news and yes let’s hope they are successful. 😊
amazing find l discovered it only last year after living here 50 years what a gem l couldn't get as much as you did only the wheel very interesting building thank you for sharing the parts l couldn't see l,ve only ever heard the 2 theories you mention further down in the comments wouldn't it be great fully restored !
Great video, apart from the 'music' obviously.
‘Guess what?... I’ve just been stung!’
and it was sore
Really interesting. Loved the views underneath too. A bit of WD40 will sort them gears out 😅
Thanks Paul
Great vid, where abouts along Redbridge Lane is this. I'd like to investigate and maybe do a video aswell.
Turn onto public footpath at Swing bridge cottage the its in the tree's after approx 50
yards
We see the water wheel by peering through a window or portal. Is there a similar window on the opposite side of the building, one that offers a view of the pump, or the spot where it was once mounted?
Unfortunately the opposite side is completely inaccessible Maynard, largely due to dense undergrowth and it being on private land.
@@PASTFINDERexploring Do you mean the entire ruin is on private land, or only that portion on the "far" side of the race?
@@maynardmckillen9228 Only the portion on the far side
A handful of vertical "rods," which appear to be metallic, are visible on the opposite/far side of those large gears. Could they be connected to a crankshaft?
And has any keen local historian uncovered a photo of the building in its heyday?
Hi Maynard. It's highly possible they could be attached to a shaft. Not been able to find any historic photo's but is the subject of a scheduling attempt by the Basingstoke Historical society.
Interesting but the music was really off putting.
Is this along Redbridge Lane ?
Yes, that's right
yes
Bob do a face reveal