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Claymills Victorian Pumping Station, Burton-Upon-Trent added to Historic Buildings in West Midlands by D0c.Col on 05/09/2024

Claymills Pumping Station is a fascinating example of Victorian industrial engineering located in Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire. It was built to pump sewage from the town to the sewage farms in the countryside, serving an important role in the sanitation and public health of the area.
Claymills Pumping Station was constructed between 1885 and 1889 by the Burton-upon-Trent Corporation as part of a broader effort to improve sanitation. The town was experiencing rapid growth due to its brewing industry, which necessitated a modern sewage system to cope with increasing waste.
The station was designed by the civil engineer James Mansergh, who was known for his work on water and sewage projects. The station is a striking example of Victorian engineering, with impressive brickwork, tall chimneys, and large engine houses.
It was fully operational from 1889 until it was decommissioned in 1971. During this time, it played a crucial role in managing sewage and wastewater, preventing the contamination of the River Trent and maintaining public health.
After its closure, the station fell into disrepair, but thanks to the efforts of volunteers and the Claymills Pumping Engines Trust, it has been restored and is now a museum and working heritage site that is designated as Grade II* listed.
The pumping station is powered by four massive beam engines, built by Gimson and Company of Leicester. These engines are named “Victoria,” “Prince Consort,” “Queen Mary,” and “Marquis Wellington.” And they are each capable of pumping around 3 million gallons of sewage per day.
The 120 horsepower compound beam engines are so called as they use steam twice for greater efficiency. The steam first enters the high-pressure cylinder and then the low-pressure cylinder before being exhausted.
The engines have a stroke of 10 feet and a bore of 32 inches for the high-pressure cylinders and 54 inches for the low-pressure cylinders.
They were originally powered by five Lancashire boilers, which generated the steam needed to drive the beam engines. These boilers were fired with coal, which was delivered to the site by rail.
The beam engines in turn drove large reciprocating pumps, which moved the sewage through large cast-iron pipes. The pumps had double-acting pistons, meaning they could pump on both the forward and return stroke thus increasing efficiency.
In addition to the main beam engines, the site also housed several smaller steam engines for auxiliary tasks, including pumping clean water to the boilers and driving workshop machinery.
Claymills is one of the most complete surviving examples of a Victorian pumping station, with much of the original machinery still intact and operational. The site now functions as a museum, offering educational tours, events that showcase the engineering marvels of the Victorian era including steam days, where visitors can see the engines in action.
The site also has a collection of other historical machinery and tools used in maintaining the station.
Due to its well-preserved state, Claymills has been used as a filming location for various documentaries and historical films, offering a glimpse into the industrial past.
Claymills Pumping Station is not just an industrial relic but a living museum that continues to educate and inspire those interested in engineering, history, and the industrial revolution. Its preservation allows visitors to step back in time and witness the power and ingenuity of Victorian engineering firsthand.

Claymills Pumping Station is inside the Derby Aerodrome FRZ so you will have to get authorisation to fly. Best to apply via email at least 24 hrs in advance to [email protected], although they have given me authorisation over the phone on occasions. In the email you'll need to include the following details:

1. Provide a map with the intended area of flight circled ie on a google map, or similar.
2. Time and date of flight.
3. Flight Duration.
4. Your Op ID and Flyer ID (if applicable).
5. UAS Device(s) to be used.
6. Your Name!

You will also be asked to contact them on the intended day just before and after your flight on Tel: 01283 733803. Sounds a lot but it really is easy and I've never been refused yet.

There are plenty of places to park, depending on the day you visit and check before you go on their website (https://www.claymills.org.uk/) as the pumping station is not always open. Best time to go are on thier STEAM days, when 2 of their 4 beam engines are fully operational, usually in conjunction with many more steam powered engines and quirky devices!

Word of Warning, there is a trainline running adjacent to the Station along with a level crossing with barrier. Not an issue really but I'm a belt and braces sort of guy!

Land owner permission requirements unknown.

View and discuss this location in more detail on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 52.82966, -1.611278 • what3words: ///glue.hangs.windy

The originator declared that this location was inside a flight restriction zone at the time of being flown. Permission to fly was obtained from Derby Aerodrome ATC. It remains the responsibility of any pilot to check for any changes before flying at the same location.

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It can be a bit treacherous under foot to reach the site.

NOTE - I made a mistake with the take off and landing location.
We took off and landed at the crash site itself.

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Co-ordinates: 53.45062, -1.865011 • what3words: ///hints.pave.dished

Dunskey Castle (By Toby999)

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Co-ordinates: 54.83544, -5.109852 • what3words: ///cigar.purse.lined

Boscobel House and the Royal Oak, Brewood, Staffordshire (By D0c.Col)

Boscobel House is a great historic place to visit, easy to find just off the A5, and as it's an English Heritage property, it has their full usual amenities available. At the time of my visit you could get a 15% discount by obtaining tickets online before you go. It has a large carpark that costs £3 for all day (you can leave and come back same day), but on the day of my flight, I parked just passed the house on the grass verge by the entrance to a farmers field, on Shackerley Lane. There is also other historic buildings nearby such as Chillington Hall and the White Ladies Priory (the latter is also on the edge of the Cosford FRZ).

Some of the footage I took was taken inside a FRZ so I strongly suggest you get prior authorisation from RAF Cosford before you fly here. Cosford ATC is not always manned during the day so you need to request their form by email to [email protected]. You need to submit your forms by email at least 24 hours prior to your intended flight, however, they do not check their emails on a Thu or Fri as they work the weekends, therefore you need to take this into account. They have a contact number of 01902 377030, but all you can generally do is leave a message. The RAF also have a pre-flight reporting number of 0800 515544 but I've never had to use it yet.

Happy flying!

Land owner permission not required.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 52.6717, -2.241865 • what3words: ///create.worms.regret

Brocton Sundial & Cave houses (By G4YTK)

Two fights close together. Park on the small carpark for free W3W " conceals, skips. reserving. Take the right path, walk up the hill with the houses on your left, pass the gate pole, approx 75m the Cave House are on your left in the dip. W3W gourmet. dabble. baguette. Be careful of the trees keep the drone low.
Re join the path walk 50m and you will come to a stone with a hole through it, a arrow points left, follow the path up the hill and you come to the stone sun dial W3W, reserving. walnuts. dress.

Land owner permission requirements unknown.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 52.78069, -2.041029 • what3words: ///drank.width.duties

Gawton's Well, Knypersley Pool (By AlbionDrones)

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Depending on your sources, Gawton was either a servant at nearby Knypersley Hall or a local villager, who was afflicted with a skin complaint and bathed in the waters of the well, which was said to cure him, he then became a hermit, living in the woods under the nearby Gawton's Stone...

The second of 4 videos from that day, and 3 filmed within a quarter of a mile of each other. I was aiming to show the peace of the place and to document what is, given the shaded area and abundance of trees I flew only the AVATA as it was not really safe to fly either of the cine camera drones, I hope I have done the place justice...

To get here, follow the path inland from the Warder's Tower and then follow the signs, path can be muddy, but otherwise accessible to the wall and within, but the well itself requires a few steep steps to be climbed.

Land owner permission not required.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 53.0971, -2.15339 • what3words: ///cuddling.attracts.strumming

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Wait for the ferry to leave Ardgour for the perfect picture!

Land owner permission not required.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 56.72145, -5.242674 • what3words: ///brings.urgent.baseballs

Warder's Tower, Knypersley Pool, Stoke-on-Stoke on Trent (By AlbionDrones)

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Captured at the end of September 2024 with the MINI3 Pro and AVATA1, just with the first blushes of autumn colours in the trees, I think another few weeks and the woods there will be stunning...

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Land owner permission not required.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 53.09521, -2.155606 • what3words: ///plug.thundered.melons

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Land owner permission not required.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 58.49235, -4.729075 • what3words: ///deploying.shopper.curbed

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Land owner permission not required.

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Parking available on the B6011 via a layby between Linby and Papplewick villages. A small walk down a trail gets you to this historic church.

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Land owner permission requirements unknown.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 53.05827, -1.187194 • what3words: ///flushes.mindset.clockwork


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