The Melingriffith Water Pump is a waterwheel-powered beam pumping engine from the 1790s.
It lifted water from the tail-race exiting the Melingriffith Ironworks, into the Glamorganshire canal.
It was built by Watkin George, the renowned innovative engineer from Cyfarthfa Ironworks, circa 1795 to return precious water from the Melingriffith Tin Plate Works to the Glamorganshire Canal. Incidentally, Watkin George also designed the Pont Y Cafnau iron bridge.
The canal company installed the pump, and the tin plate works contributed to its maintenance.
The water pump raised water 12 feet back into the canal by means of an undershot paddle wheel connected to two rocking beams of oak. The other ends of the two rocking beams are connected to the vertical pumping cylinders by a chain mechanism. The cylinders have a bore of 2 feet 8 inches and a stroke of 5 feet. The pistons in each cylinder include triangular weighted flaps of iron with leather hinges.
In 1808, William Jessop and the famous Canal Engineer John Rennie were consulted on the performance of the pump – they apparently suggested the use of a steam engine instead, but their idea was too costly.
The pump became redundant when this part of the canal closed in 1942.
Check out a BBC Wales report on the 2010 restoration of the pump – HERE!
The water pump is a scheduled monument and has been restored twice. There used to be a Friends of group, but they disbanded in 2013. However, their website can be viewed – HERE!
The Melingriffith Water Pump is a waterwheel-powered beam pumping engine from the 1790s.
It lifted water from the tail-race exiting the Melingriffith Ironworks, into the Glamorganshire canal.
It was built by Watkin George, the renowned innovative engineer from Cyfarthfa Ironworks, circa 1795 to return precious water from the Melingriffith Tin Plate Works to the Glamorganshire Canal. Incidentally, Watkin George also designed the Pont Y Cafnau iron bridge.
The canal company installed the pump, and the tin plate works contributed to its maintenance.
The water pump raised water 12 feet back into the canal by means of an undershot paddle wheel connected to two rocking beams of oak. The other ends of the two rocking beams are connected to the vertical pumping cylinders by a chain mechanism. The cylinders have a bore of 2 feet 8 inches and a stroke of 5 feet. The pistons in each cylinder include triangular weighted flaps of iron with leather hinges.
In 1808, William Jessop and the famous Canal Engineer John Rennie were consulted on the performance of the pump – they apparently suggested the use of a steam engine instead, but their idea was too costly.
The pump became redundant when this part of the canal closed in 1942.
Check out a BBC Wales report on the 2010 restoration of the pump – HERE!
The water pump is a scheduled monument and has been restored twice. There used to be a Friends of group, but they disbanded in 2013. However, their website can be viewed – HERE!