Help Make History Move: Lichfield Trust Launches Appeal to Restore Rare Victorian Engine

The volunteers at the Lichfield Waterworks Trust have a big goal for 2026: they want to bring a silent giant back to life. The Trust is currently working to renovate the historic Sandfields Pumping Station, and they are calling on the community to help get their iconic Victorian Cornish Beam Engine moving once again.

A Remarkable Piece of History

At the heart of the Sandfields site sits an extraordinary piece of engineering. Built by Jonah & George Davies of Tipton and installed in 1873, this beam engine is one of only four surviving examples left in the entire country.

For 50 years, the engine was the heartbeat of the station, pumping clean water to the Black Country to help combat cholera and improve public health. However, the engine was taken out of service in 1927 and has stood silent for nearly a century.

The Vision of John Robinson McClean

The story of Sandfields is deeply tied to the history of South Staffs Water. The site was a key part of the vision of John Robinson McClean, the pioneering engineer and founder of the South Staffordshire Waterworks Company. It was his expertise that helped bring clean water from the Lichfield springs to the industrial heartlands, a legacy that the Trust is working hard to preserve today.

Why Support the Restoration?

The Trust is aiming to raise £5,000 to fund the specialist materials and engineering expertise needed to restore movement to the engine. The scale of the project is massive: the main beam alone is 36 feet long and weighs 20 tons. When it is operational again, it will reciprocate 14 times a minute, just as it did in the 19th century.

Restoring the engine will transform the site from a static exhibit into a working piece of history. This will allow the Trust to expand its educational tours for local school children and attract more visitors to Lichfield, providing a boost to local businesses in the area.

How to Get Involved

The Trust is offering some brilliant rewards for those who contribute to the Crowdfunder:

• £20 or more: A free tour of the Pumping Station.

• £40 or more: A free tour plus a free Engine Plate.

• £50 or more: A free Engine Plate and a private tour for two to be among the first to see the engine actually moving.

To support the appeal and help keep Lichfield’s industrial heritage alive, you can donate directly via their Crowdfunder page here.