I did a visit on 11.04.09 to Elsecar and was rather kindly allowed the run of the place on my own after some brief negotiation (the security guy waited outside)... Any how I have posted quite a few detail pics inside the house of the Engine itself which I hope will prove of interest to those into engine houses, beam engines, Newcomen engines, modellers etc in general.

I think since my first trip it has become one of my very favourite sites anywhere being in such original condition and also being the only atmospheric engine in the world still in its original house being erected in 1795 at a cost of £1065 for the engine and £167 for the engine house.
It was built with a wooden beam replaced by cast Iron in 1836. It worked at 6-8 strokes per minute lifting 40 gallons per stroke over 129 feet at max output and was in continuous use up to 1923... not bad eh... it remained operable until 1953 when it overstroked cracking the cylinder bottom, an attempt was made to re-weld it but it has not run since.

I also received news that day from someone else on site that there is a chance that certain organisation may be persuaded to part with some dosh to maybe even get it repaired and able to run, or certainly ensure its future conservation in full ensuring the engine and its house never deteriorate!!! I just hope its true and they retain the engines unique character.

I was also told that whilst the site is classed as an ancient monument it is not listed....

A superb book is now out on called "The Beam engines of Elsecar, Leawood & Middleton Top" by P.J.M. Southworth and retails for £6.50, 42 pages of good text, great diagrams and descriptions on the Elsecar and the other two all of which are local to where I live, guess this was the perfect read in that case ! ISBN 0-9511856-4-0
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🔗Elsecar-Coal-Colliery-User-Album-Image-33180[linkphoto]Elsecar-Coal-Colliery-User-Album-Image-33180[/linkphoto][/link]

🔗Elsecar-Coal-Colliery-User-Album-Image-33176[linkphoto]Elsecar-Coal-Colliery-User-Album-Image-33176[/linkphoto][/link]

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Just a reminder that the Leawood Engine is a sister engine (same maker, built within a year or two) of the engine installed at Mandale Mine, Lathkill Dale and the that the makers, Graham's, built other engines (including the one at High Rake), pumps amd wheels used in mines around the Peak District. The Leawood engine can be seen in motion on the first weekend of the month or Sunday/Monday of Bank Holidays (not Spring) through Summer - more details on the web. Though used to pump water into the canal the engine would not have been there if Meerbrook Sough had not undermined the Cromford Sough and so deprived the canal of it's original water supply. Driving the sough started twenty years before the canal was cut and so someone should have seen this coming (and probably did!). The Leawood engine is usually run at around half speed (i.e. 3-4 strokes/minute), on steam and lifts four tons of water/stroke. A good opportunity to see a Cornish type engine doing what it was built for.
I do hope that the Elsecar engine is repaired and run again.

The subject of Mandale's engine is covered in the book I mentioned.
All 3 engines in the book are amazing and if Elsecar could be a runner what a trio....

I think the same author has done another similar book on 3 others.

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I believe that a structure Listed as being of special architectural or historic interest is therefore of relatively local importance. However a place Scheduled as an Ancient Monument is of national importance and therefore, theoretically, has greater protection.

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I had kinda guessed that but wasn't sure.... I wish it was more local to me. The nearby Rockley newcomen Eng House is Wonderful to as is the Westfield one at Rotherham... Least they all stand in relatively good nick. 😉

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