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© Mr D.R. Smith LRPS
IoE Number:
219213
Location:
SMETHWICK NEW PUMPING HOUSE APPROXIMATELY 50 METRES NORTH WEST OF BRASSHOUSE LANE BIRMINGHAM CANAL BIRMINGHAM LEVEL,
SMETHWICK, SANDWELL, WEST MIDLANDS
Photographer:
Mr D.R. Smith LRPS
Date Photographed:
14 August 1999
Date listed:
29 December 1978
Date of last amendment:
29 December 1978
Grade
II
The Images of England website consists of images of listed buildings based on the statutory list as it was in 2001 and does not incorporate subsequent amendments to the list. For the statutory list and information on the current listed status of individual buildings please go to The National Heritage List for England.
SANDWELL MB BIRMINGHAM CANAL
SP 0188 NE
Birmingham Level, Smethwick
19/14 Smethwick new Pumping House
approximately 50 metres
29.12.78
north-west of Brasshouse Lane
II
Pumping house between Smeaton's Old Main Line on the Wolverhampton Level and
Telford's New Main Line on the Birmingham Level. 1892. Brick with slate roof.
One storey to Old Main Line and two storeys to New Main Line. Lower storey
has four-bay blind arcade with impost band, and a smaller doorway within
right-hand arch. The upper storey has four windows with segmental heads, the
two right-hand ones blocked, and a drip course. Miniature false machicolation
to the eaves; adjoining to the left is the ashes hole with a doorway for removing
the ash. Hipped slate roof in two spans, with louvred ridge ventilators. Right-
hand return wall of three bays, with blocked windows. North-east wall, facing
upper level, has two wide elliptical arches with smaller inner segmental arches.
The right-hand one is blocked, the left-hand one is a doorway. In front of the
right-hand archway are the foundation walls of the coal hole. Interior: steel
roof trusses. History: This pumping house replaced two earlier pumping stations
on the Engine Arm of the Birmingham Canal. It was the last to be erected on
this section of the canal and housed two vertical compound engines driving
centrifugal pumps capable of lifting 200 locks per day. In 1905 one engine was
removed for use at Bentley, the remaining one being in use until the early 1920s.
The pumphouse is a prominent feature of the canalside landscape.