I am involved in the excavation at High Rake Mine at Windmill, near
Great Hucklow, Derbyshire. (Information may be seen on the PDMHS Web
Pages at www.tidza.demon.co.uk-page34.html). We are currently working on
the main pumping engine house, which housed a Sims’ Combined Engine.
According to Barton (The Cornish Beam Engine) this was a 36”/70”
(10ft e.b.) supplied by Graham and Company of the Milton Iron Works.
According to Barton one of the problems with these engines was that,
having two cylinders above one another, they required a very high (he
says four-storey) engine house. Apparently one of the ways to reduce
this was to sink the lower cylinder below the engine-house floor.
Now, so far, what we have seen of the engine house foundations
demonstrates quite a small engine house. The engine houses were
demolished for stone in the 1930’s, so all we can see are the
foundations.
My questions are these - Is there an extent engine house which was
built for a Sims’ engine? Is there anywhere a drawing of a Sims’
engine-house? Can anyone comment on Sims’ compound engines?
Barton lists Sims’ engines at Carn Brea, Ting Tang, Perran Great St.
George, South Wheal Basset, Wheal Martha (Stoke Climsland), Par Consols,
Wheal Anna (Perranzabuloe), Nap Down Consols (Combe Martin), Caradon
Great Consols, Wheal Harriett (Camborne) and in Linares.
--
David Williams
Visit www.pdmhs.com for information
on the Peak District Mines Historical Society
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