Syphon Carrying South Level Engine Drain Under The River Torne Approximately 200 Metres South East Of Pilfrey Farm

The syphon carrying the South Level Engine Drain under the River Torne was built around 1813 by Thackray. It features tooled ashlar facing and a parapet, with brick tunnels that are approximately 50 metres long from north to south. The north and south sides have three segmental-headed tunnel entrances flanking a pair of rounded cutwaters, with a band and coped parapet between rectangular end piers. The tunnels slope sharply down below the waterline. This structure carries the combined waters of the South Level Engine Drain and Folly Drain beneath the former course of the River Torne, which is now disused, as well as the A18 road. The River Torne was cut between 1629 and 1639 by Cornelius Vermuyden, while the South Level Engine Drain, previously known as the New Idle River before 1858, was created as part of improvements made by Samuel Foster around 1795 or shortly thereafter. The syphon is believed to be part of further enhancements made by Thackray in or after 1813, following proposals by John Rennie. The upper drain (River Torne) has since been diverted, and its original course has fallen into disuse. Other drain syphons can be found at Sandtoft, in Belton parish, and south of the A18 in Crowle parish.