Old Brook Pumping Station: Chatham's industrial heritage

Back in 1929, Chatham faced significant issues with poor sanitation and failing drainage culverts, which had led to disease and the decline of fish stocks in the River Medway. In response, the Old Brook Pumping Station was opened in September 1929 to lift foul water from the lowest part of the town to the main sewer. The station operated until 1979, when its function was taken over by a new, fully automatic station on the opposite side of The Brook.

Inside, the station houses a collection of impressive industrial machinery. This includes two 14-inch Campbell single cylinder diesel engines used to drive pumps during storms and flooding, as well as several electric motor driven Blackstone Unchokeable Pumps of varying sizes. These machines were designed to handle both normal dry weather flow and the massive volumes of storm water that required direct discharge into the River Medway via a storm tower.

Today, the station is a scheduled monument managed by the Medway Industrial Archaeology Group. Visitors can explore the site, which features a Victorian printing press, model windmills, and a road roller in the grounds. The museum is open on Saturdays from 11am to 3pm between June and September, and on the first Saturday of the month from 11am to 3pm between October and May.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons