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Pumping Station is situated in the
heart of the Forest of Dean. The water feeding the Pumping Station comes
from a former iron ore mine that was worked extensively in the 16th
Century.
More recently we have operated a fish
hatchery to help improve the stock of local Salmon in the River Wye.
The Pumping Station
The original Pumping Station was built at Green Bottom in 1870
to provide fresh water to Cinderford and East Dean. It was situated close to the
entrance to a 16th Century iron ore mine. This mine has flooded and forms the
source of clear fresh water which was collected in a huge collecting tank.
The first pumps were steam powered and the building had a
substantial chimney to accommodate the coal fired furnace.
The pumps had to run for 23 hours a day to supply the local
community and workers had one hour when the pumps were out of use to complete
any maintenance and repairs.
After around 60 years steam power gave way to electricity and new electric
pumps were installed in the 1930's.
During the 2nd World War a steel fence was erected and the Home Guard were
posted to guard the water supply from attack.
The workers grew tobacco in the garden which they dried in the pumping
station. They also grew fruit trees, vegetables and kept pigs, poultry and honey
bees.
By 1971 when this aerial photograph was taken the station has become part of
the water board and eventually Severn Trent Water.
The collecting tank shown to the left of this picture is now used as a
hatchery for salmon as part of a programme to support the wild salmon stock in
the River Wye.
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