Buckingham engine house (ST 173404) is mentioned in David Bick's
"Evolution of the Pre-Cornish Beam Engine House." (Ind. Arch. Review,
XXI:2, 1999), although your question is not specifically answered.
Barry Job.
-----Original Message-----
From: Newman, Phil [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 30 April 2003 11:39
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Engine house query
Dear list,
Can anyone help me with what is probably a very elementary problem about
engine houses? If there are no visible signs of a stack or external
boiler house on an otherwise intact structure, can I assume that the
boiler was internal and some alternative system for disposing of fumes
was used? The buildings in question are at the Buckingham mines in
Somerset and were built c. 1820. Both are of the same design, the engine
having been moved from one to the other. The engine in question was a
Boulton and Watt 47-inch cylinder. Whether this was a genuine Boulton
and Watt in which case I should think it was second hand by that time or
just following Boulton and Watt's design is not clear. Other
characteristic features are tall plug doors with timber lintels, which
must have considerably weakened the bob walls, and no visible cylinder
loading.
I have so far drawn a blank from the 'usual sources' and have been
unable to trace any previous work done on the site though someone must
have looked at them before.
Any help gratefully received.
Phil Newman
(English Heritage, Exeter)
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