Following the query about Pontifex and Wood I asked Tim Smith (who is not a member of the system - one of the many who ought to be!) about them, I have put his notes below.
Mary Mills.
Tim says "Pontifex & Wood - just where does one begin. Off the top of my head (I do have notes somewhere in my filing system), there were various Pontifex firms, mainly based in Shoe Lane in the City. I presume the Pontifexes were all related. They were principally lead manufacturers and coppersmiths and brewers' engineers. Shoe Lane has been completely rebuilt as offices but their coppersmith's works, in York Road, King's Cross survives and was the subject of archaeological studies by RCHME (now EH) and others. I think it is to be kept in the current redevelopment of the area (but I am not sure about this). I think Pontifex & Wood dated from either late C18th or early C19th - but I would need to check my notes on thi!
s. In the later C19th they established a large works on the Isle of Dogs which passed into the hands of Locke, Lancaster & W W & R Johnson & Sons, lead manufacturers. I do not know of any other waterwheels by Pontifex & Wood, but as brewers' engineers they would make pumps. Do you want me to dig out my notes? The lead works are described in "Days at the Factory".
Tim
>
> Subject: Pontifex & Wood, Hydraulic Engineers
> Date: Wed, 19 Feb 2003 23:33:13 0000
> From: Robert Waterhouse <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
>
> Does anyone know anything about Pontifex & Wood, Hydraulic Engineers, of
> London? At Morwellham Quay there is a locally made 10' water wheel, probably
> dating from 1856, which drives a pair of single acting pumps made by them.
> The bore of each pump is 3" and the stroke 9". They draw from a shared pipe
> and force water up a single pipe to a domestic water tank approximately 8
> metres vertically above them. Any information gratefully received.
>
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Date: Thu, 20 Feb 2003 18:39:48 +0000 (GMT)
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Subject: Re: pontifex
> Does anyone know anything about Pontifex & Wood, Hydraulic Engineers, of London? At Morwellham Quay there is a locally made 10' water wheel, probably dating from 1856, which drives a pair of single acting pumps made by them. The bore of each pump is 3" and the stroke 9". They draw from a shared pipe and force water up a single pipe to a domestic water tank approximately 8 metres vertically above them. Any information gratefully received.
>
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