Sandfields Pumping Station
Chesterfield Rd, Lichfield WS14 0AA, UK
About
Sandfields Pumping Station is a Grade II* listed Victorian waterworks site on Chesterfield Road in Lichfield. The surviving engine house was built in 1872 to 1873 for the South Staffordshire Waterworks Company as an extension to the original pumping station of 1858, and it still contains its original 1873 Cornish beam engine. Historic England highlights the site for its technological, architectural and rarity value, noting that it is one of only four pumping stations in England to retain an original Cornish beam engine in situ.
The site has a direct link to the history of South Staffs Water through the former South Staffordshire Waterworks Company, which was formed in 1853 to supply cleaner water to Black Country towns. Water from springs and streams around Lichfield was stored in Minster Pool and Stowe Pool, then carried by a rock-cut tunnel to the pumping station before being sent along a supply main towards Brownhills, Walsall and surrounding areas.
The first Sandfields pumping station opened in 1858 and used James Watt beam engines. As demand grew, company engineer William Vawdry recommended an extra engine in 1871, leading to the construction of the present engine house, designed by Henry Naden. The Cornish beam engine was ordered from J and G Davies of Tipton, but after the firm ran into financial trouble and was declared bankrupt in January 1873, the engine was eventually completed later that year under Vawdry’s direction.
Later changes saw the earlier beam engines replaced in 1923 by Sulzer uniflow steam engines linked to a filtration plant opened in 1927. Most of the original pumping station complex was demolished in 1966, but the Cornish beam engine house was kept. Water abstraction ended in 1997, the station closed, and the filtration plant was demolished in 1998, leaving the surviving engine house as the main historic structure on the site.
Today, Sandfields Pumping Station is managed by Lichfield Waterworks Trust. The trust says it was formed in March 2015 after a housebuilder bought land including the pumping station. It negotiated access to the site, and from 2017 volunteers have worked to maintain the engine and building. Lichfield City Council describes this as an effort to save the then derelict station and steam engine, continuing work first taken on by the earlier Friends of Sandfields Pumping Station while the site was still in South Staffs Water ownership.
The pumping station is now both a heritage attraction and a community venue. Visitors can see the engine house, learn about local water supply history, and explore a site that combines industrial heritage with ongoing volunteer-led restoration. Visit Lichfield describes it as being open year round on selected mornings, with tours by arrangement, and lists facilities including toilets, group visits and free parking.
Contact Details
Chesterfield Rd, Lichfield WS14 0AA, UK
Tuesday 10:00 - 12:00
Friday 10:00 - 12:00
Photo Gallery
Further Information
Services
Historic engine house visits
Heritage interpretation and displays
Guided visits for small numbers during opening times
Group visits by arrangement
Community venue hire
Volunteer opportunities
Heritage restoration support through donations and community involvement
Why Visit / Why Support Them
Sandfields Pumping Station is one of those places that helps explain how towns and cities worked before modern infrastructure became invisible. It links Lichfield directly to the history of water supply across the Black Country, and the surviving engine house is nationally important because it still holds its original Cornish beam engine. Supporting the site also supports the volunteer-led effort to care for, restore and share a rare part of Staffordshire’s industrial heritage.
Parking
There is limited parking on site. The trust asks visitors to be prepared to use alternative parking, including nearby on-street parking, while respecting neighbouring access. It also lists nearby options including The Friary, Lichfield, WS13 6QE at around 0.6 miles away and Lichfield City Station car park, Station Road, WS13 6HY at around 0.7 miles away. Visit Lichfield also lists free parking among the site’s facilities.
How to Get There
By car: Use postcode WS14 0AA. The entrance is directly opposite 106 Chesterfield Road.
By bus: The trust says Route 35 leaves Lichfield Bus Station at 34 minutes past the hour. Visitors should get off at the roundabout by Maxstock Avenue and Chesterfield Road, then walk under the railway bridge. The return bus is listed as 15 minutes past the hour from the stop opposite Sainte Foy Avenue.
By train: Lichfield City Station is about 0.6 miles away, roughly a 10 to 15 minute walk.
Opening Times
Visit Lichfield lists the station as open Tuesday and Friday mornings from 10am to 12pm all year round, with other times sometimes available by arrangement. The trust also says visitors should confirm someone is on site before setting off, and group visits can be arranged outside regular volunteer mornings.
FAQ
What is Sandfields Pumping Station?
It is a historic pumping station in Lichfield centred on a surviving 1872 to 1873 engine house that contains its original Cornish beam engine.
How old is Sandfields Pumping Station?
The original pumping station dates to 1858, while the surviving engine house dates to 1872 to 1873.
What was it used for?
It formed part of the water supply system created by the South Staffordshire Waterworks Company to move water from Lichfield sources to Black Country towns and nearby distribution networks.
What is special about the engine?
Historic England says the station retains its original Cornish beam engine in situ and that it is one of only four pumping stations in England to do so.
Is it linked to South Staffs Water?
Yes. The site was built for the South Staffordshire Waterworks Company, the predecessor of today’s South Staffs Water, and later remained in South Staffs Water ownership before passing into new ownership and trust-led care.
Why is it listed?
The engine house is Grade II* listed for its architectural quality, technological significance, and rarity as a surviving pumping station with its original Cornish beam engine.
Is it being restored?
The current effort is volunteer-led conservation and restoration rather than a single finished project. Lichfield Waterworks Trust was formed in 2015 to help save the derelict site, negotiated access, and says volunteers have been maintaining the building and engine since 2017.
Can you visit?
Yes, but opening is limited. Regular public access is usually on Tuesday and Friday mornings, and group visits can be arranged separately. The trust advises checking before travelling.
Are there toilets?
Yes. The trust and Visit Lichfield both indicate toilet facilities are available.
Is it accessible?
Access is currently limited. The car park level of the 1960s building is accessible without stairs, and the trust says it hopes to install a lift in future. A virtual tour is also available.
Can groups visit?
Yes. Visit Lichfield says groups are accepted, and the trust says group visits can be arranged outside standard opening times.
A small recommendation: for your directory, I’d label this as a partnered-style community listing rather than a standard basic listing, because the heritage detail, visitor info and FAQ are exactly the kind of content that makes the page useful and search-friendly
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