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Stretham Old Engine
Stretham Old Engine is a steam-powered engine just south of Stretham in Cambridgeshire, England, that was used to pump water from flood-affected areas of The Fens back into the River Great Ouse. It is one of only three surviving drainage engines in East Anglia, and is a Grade II* listed building. History During the 17th century, large areas of fenland in East Anglia were reclaimed via extensive draining schemes. Despite this, crops and livestock were frequently swept away by widescale flooding as the land sank because of the drainage. As a partial solution, windpumps were used to pump water away from flood-affected areas, but relied on the weather and lacked the power required to lift large quantities of water. Wicken Fen nature reserve has a preserved and restored windpump, used to manage the water table in the Fen. The advent of steam power in the late 18th century offered a new solution, and these new engines began to spring up around The Fens. Steam engine The steam engine ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Stretham
Stretham Locally, the is a glottal stop: or even is a village and civil parish south-south-west of Ely in Cambridgeshire, England, about by road from London. Its main attraction is Stretham Old Engine, a steam-powered pump used to drain the fens. The pump is still in use today although converted to electric power. It has open days throughout the year. History A Bronze Age hoard consisting of gold jewellery including a torque, bracelet, six ribbed-rings as well as a bronze rapier was discovered in Granta Fen near Stretham in 1850. Dating to between 1300 and 1000 BC, the torque is in the Hunt Museum in Limerick while the remainder of the treasure is in the British Museum. Stretham means ''homestead or village on the road'' (possibly Roman); Latin ''strata'' for paved road or old English ''ystrad'' for road plus old English ''ham'' for village. The route of the Roman road from Cambridge is uncertain beyond Waterbeach. Brythnoth (the first Abbot of the Benedictine monas ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
