Waterworks house and pumping station Erdington

[Pedrocut]

This is the OS Map published in 1914, would the house be the one shown across the road from the Golden Cross ?

 

[Morturn]

I far as I know yes it was the waterworks house.

 

[Peter John]

Yes, the house in the space 204. It's still there and occupied. I guess they don't keep pigs though, which my Dad did before WW1. The pumping station is now a modern square block with electric pumps. Until about 1930 it was a James Watt Beam engine. Grandad George Burrows started as a stoker and eventually became Driver. He served 46ys 5months for the Birmingham Water Board.

 

[Morturn]

Hi Peter, do you have any further information about your dad as an engine driver?

Although the pumping station is certainly steam powered, I am wondering if it was a beam engine or a Bull engine that your dad looked after.

Here are a couple of photos of the site. There was a similar style pumping station at Longbridge.

 

[Peter John]

George Burrows was my Dad's Dad. I do not remember him at all. He died 1950 when I was 5. The pictures are remarkable and much appreciated. My Dad was somewhat isolated from his family for reasons I find difficult to understand. I have only recently found out I had 4 great uncles and two Aunts I never met! I have just made contact with a cousin I knew nothing of. My Dad was brought up in the house on the water-works site but when his Dad George retired he moved to a council house in Short Heath Rd. before 1939 We never visited. From 'Ancestry' I see he is listed as 'Stoker' at first,1891 then 'Engine Driver'1896. Before the building of the Elan Valley system, Birmingham obtained all its water from wells. Thank goodness the 'City Fathers' had the foresight! I understand that all the pumps were beam engines. I am sure pictures of the machines do exist but I have not as yet done that research.- would be interesting.
The original buildings still exist at Selly Oak and Whitacre.

 

[Pedrocut]

And also the Pumping Station at the lower reservoir in Edgbaston, which has lately been discussed.

 

[Pedrocut]

September 1870 the sinking above Witton pools is progressing favourably, and a contract entered for a permanent engine to be erected there.

September 1871. The sinking at King's Vale had not yielded the quantity of water expected. The sinking at Short Heath, above the Witton pools, is progressing favourably and the directors have recently contracted for the engine-house and boiler houses to be erected there. The permanent engine is in an advance state.

Sep 1872. The Engine, engine house, and boiler-house at Short Heath are now complete, with good supply of excellent water.

Report September 1873 Pumping station at Short Heath in good working order

 

[Morturn]

The phots below will give you an idea how the beam engine your grandfather carded for looked like.

The company who built this one was from Tipton who also suppled a number of beam engines to the Birmingham Waterworks Company. I look after this one now.

 

[Fentham]

my Past your sGeorge Burrows was my Dad's Dad. I do not remember him at all. He died 1950 when I was 5. The pictures are remarkable and much appreciated. My Dad was somewhat isolated from his family for reasons I find difficult to understand. I have only recently found out I had 4 great uncles and two Aunts I never met! I have just made contact with a cousin I knew nothing of. My Dad was brought up in the house on the water-works site but when his Dad George retired he moved to a council house in Short Heath Rd. before 1939 We never visited. From 'Ancestry' I see he is listed as 'Stoker' at first,1891 then 'Engine Driver'1896. Before the building of the Elan Valley system, Birmingham obtained all its water from wells. Thank goodness the 'City Fathers' had the foresight! I understand that all the pumps were beam engines. I am sure pictures of the machines do exist but I have not as yet done that research.- would be interesting.
The original buildings still exist at Selly Oak and Whitacre.

Have you looked at the 1949 census on Find my Past. Your family is on it.

 

[Peter John]

I was not aware that there was a census in 1949. I have all relevant parts from the 1939 census which has been very useful as it has been updated into the 1950s as ladies have married and changed their names!