Manufacturer: Joseph Evans.
Compton Martin (click on photographs to bring up bigger/better
versions).
| This most unusual pump cabinet is by the side of the road, next to the old millpond. My thanks to Peter Taviner, who restored the pumps in 1984 and took the trouble to open up the casing in 2008 for me to have a look inside. His work must have been good, because both pumps still worked after 24 years! |
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Just two handles and two spouts can be seen from the outside, fully encased in a cast iron cabinet with double doors to both the front and back. Although it's not the original, it has been in place for at least a couple of generations, and is modelled on the original. The locks, front and back, have rusted, and today the cabinet is secured by means of padlocks. Notices above each handle slot proclaim: | |
| UNFIT FOR DRINKING | ||
| Markings: A Lion on both pumps. Manufacturer: Joseph Evans. |
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Closer
inspection reveals that the smaller pump has lost its cap, which Peter had
replaced with a piece of sheet metal. The larger pump has had its original high
level spout blocked and a new one fitted at the same level as the spout on the
smaller pump. Both pumps' spouts have at some stage been re-sheathed with non-Evans
spouts. And here's the evidence that in 2008 both pumps still worked > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > |
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In June 2011, Peter e-mailed us to say that new seals had just been fitted and that both pumps were fully operational again, although water levels were low. By 2017, however, a further refurbishment was finally necessary, and this time a commercial company was employed to do the work. Peter Taviner took a special interest in the activties, and supplied us with some photographs to show the happy result. |  |
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It's still there, in 2019 - perhaps a bit more weedy. Thanks to Zoe King for the photos. |  |