Bestwood Pumping Station
| Bestwood Pumping Station | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Bestwood Pumping Station | |
  Location in Nottinghamshire | |
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Venetian Gothic |
| Location | St Albans, Nottinghamshire, England |
| Coordinates | 53°01′42″N 1°08′16″W / 53.02831°N 1.13764°W |
| Year(s) built | 1871–74 |
| Client | Nottingham Water Company |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Thomas Hawksley |
Listed Building – Grade II* | |
| Official name | Bestwood Pumping Station |
| Designated | 5 September 1972 |
| Reference no. | 1265233 |
Bestwood Pumping Station was a water pumping station operating in St Albans, Nottinghamshire, England, from 1874 until 1964. It was subsequently repurposed for various hospitality uses.
History
Bestwood Pumping Station was built between 1871 and 1874 on land belonging to William Beauclerk, 10th Duke of St Albans. It was commissioned by the Nottingham Water Company and designed by Thomas Hawksley in the Venetian Gothic style, reflecting the social importance of water supply infrastructure in the 19th century.[1]
The 172 feet (52 m) tall chimney is concealed and disguised as a huge campanile topped by a cupola.
It was equipped with two 125 hp rotative beam engines built by Joseph Whitham and Son, Leeds. The pumping station yielded more than 3.5 million imperial gallons (16,000 m3) per day from the pebble beds.[2] It pumped water through two 18-inch (46 cm) mains to Red Hill reservoir and one 18-inch main to the Papplewick reservoir.
It operated until 1964 when a new electric pump house was built. The steam engines were removed between 1968 and 1972.
Bestwood Pumping Station was designated a Grade II* listed building in 1972.[3] Several of the structures on site are also separately listed including the lodges,[4][5] landscaped ornamental cooling pond,[6] several cast iron lamps[7][8][9] and the boundary wall and gate.[10]
Later use
The Venetian Gothic Revival style building can be seen from the main A60 road. Its tower makes the building a local landmark.
From 1982 until 2017, the building housed the Lakeside Tower Restaurant and Spa.[11] The site was left vacant until it was acquired in 2019 for £1.5 million. Substantial investment went into its redevelopment, most recently branded as 'Lakeside'. The building operated as a wedding venue and restaurant until it closed in 2023.[12]
See also
- Grade II* listed buildings in Nottinghamshire
- Listed buildings in Bestwood St. Albans
- Papplewick Pumping Station
- Boughton Pumping Station
External links
References
- ^ Douet, James (2023). The Architecture of Steam: Waterworks and the Victorian Sanitary Crisis. Historic England in association with Liverpool University Press. pp. 87–95. ISBN 9781802077537.
- ^ Chemical news and journal of industrial science, Volume 32
- ^ Historic England, "Bestwood Pumping Station (1265233)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 15 July 2025
- ^ Historic England, "East Lodge at Bestwood Pumping Station (1265207)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 15 July 2025
- ^ Historic England, "West Lodge at Bestwood Pumping Station (1265372)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 15 July 2025
- ^ Historic England, "Cooling pond and 2 lamps at Bestwood Pumping Station (1227452)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 15 July 2025
- ^ Historic England, "Lamp 10 metres west of East Lodge at Bestwood Pumping Station (1227453)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 15 July 2025
- ^ Historic England, "Lamp 15 metres north of boiler house at Bestwood Pumping Station (1227455)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 15 July 2025
- ^ Historic England, "Lamp 5 metres east of West Lodge at Bestwood Pumping Station (1265213)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 15 July 2025
- ^ Historic England, "Boundary wall, piers and gate at Bestwood Pumping Station (1235158)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 15 July 2025
- ^ Ball, Jon (15 February 2021). "Iconic Grade-II listed pumping station near Mansfield will reopen as a wedding venue". Chad. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
- ^ Locker, Joe (5 January 2024). "Enforcement action planned after 'illegal building works' found at protected Victorian pumping station near Arnold". Gedling Eye. Retrieved 15 July 2025.