Elsecar Heritage Centre
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 Elsecar Heritage Centre | |
 | |
| Location | Elsecar, South Yorkshire, England |
|---|---|
| Type | Heritage centre |
| Website | Elsecar Heritage Centre |
Elsecar Heritage Centre is a Living History centre in Elsecar, South Yorkshire, England. It also comprises various shops, galleries, art studios and an exhibition hall. It runs craft workshops, special events, and a monthly antiques fair. The buildings were originally used for various industries including ironworks and forges, a distillery, and engineering workshops. These fell into decline when the coal mines in the village closed.
It also has its own Elsecar goods station (called Rockingham Station) on the Elsecar Steam Railway, with a running shed behind the main centre. During some special events, trips are run to Hemingfield Basin. There are plans to extend the line to Cortonwood and build two stations (one at Cortonwood and the other at Hemingfield). The railway's depot is home to a selection of steam locomotives as well as a diesel locomotive.
Elsecar Engine
The centre is also the site of the only Newcomen beam engine in the world to have remained in its original location. It was used to pump water out of Elsecar New Colliery and ran from 1795 until 1923 when it was replaced by electric pumps. It also ran briefly in 1928 when the electric pumps were overwhelmed by flooding. At its peak it could draw 600 gallons a minute. In 1972 the engine was classified as a Scheduled Ancient Monument. The engine was restored to working order (worked by hydraulics) over the period 2012–14.[1]
References
- ^ McEwen, Alan (January 2015). "Elsecar's Newcomen engine restored". Old Glory (299): 6–7.
External links
- The Newcomen engine
- Elsecar Heritage Centre - Barnsley Council official site
- English Heritage – National Monuments Record for Elsecar Newcomen engine
53°29′38″N 1°25′11″W / 53.49389°N 1.41972°W
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