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The charity making life better by water

Historic pumping station gets a facelift

Thanks to a generous £100,000 donation from the players of the People’s Postcode Lottery we are restoring a historic Grade II listed pumping station along the Grand Union Canal near Tring.

Tringford courtesy of Rob Farrow

Tringford Pumping Station was built in 1817 by renowned canal engineer Thomas Telford and houses three water pumps which supply water to the Grand Union Canal.

The pumps push water from the reservoirs at Tring to the highest point on the canal and without them, the canal would run dry. The pumps, which are used nearly every day, move around 2,393 million litres of water per year– the equivalent amount of water as filling 798,000 Olympic sized swimming pools.

The building, which has been a feature of the canals for nearly 200 years, is undergoing extensive restoration including repairs to damaged brickwork, roofing, gutters and windows, and improved facilities for volunteers and staff using the building.

Spencer Green said: "Tringford Pumping Station is home to the ‘beating heart' of the Grand Union Canal. Without its pumps, located 40 foot below the surface and connected to the reservoirs by deep wells and underground tunnels, the canal would run dry.

"The work we're doing will ensure this wonderful building survives and works for many more years to come."

Clara Govier, Head of Charities at People's Postcode Lottery, said: “The pumping station has stood the test of time but now needs some major restoration. I'm delighted that the People's Postcode Lottery were able to help with this restoration and look forward to seeing the building once finished.”

A public open day where members of the public can go inside the building, have a guided tour of the pumps and learn about how they keep the canal topped up with water is planned in March

Last Edited: 21 December 2016

photo of a location on the canals
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