Village Pump

The Village Pump in Cubley is a cast iron water pump, built in 1902 by Bamford's and donated by Henry Arthur Clowes. It has a square shape with a spout at the front and a cow-tail handle on one side, topped with a pyramidal cap and finial. The pump features raised bands on three visible sides that frame two panels with a circle in between. The front spout is set into this circle, while the upper panel displays the initials HAC and the date 1902 in relief. The lower panel includes a small shield that reads "Bamford's Frost Protected Lift Pump" above what appears to be the Royal coat of arms, indicating that Bamford's held a Royal Warrant.

Historically, water pumps became increasingly common in towns and villages throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, providing domestic water into the 20th century. Both the 1880 and 1901 Ordnance Survey maps of Great Cubley show a pump at this location, along with at least two others nearby. The current pump was erected in 1902, and the initials HAC suggest it was a gift from Henry Arthur Clowes, the owner of the Cubley Estate at that time. The pump was made by Bamford's, which may be linked to JC Bamford, the founder of the Staffordshire company JCB. The pump was restored at the millennium, and a cap was added.

This water pump is listed for its special interest as a complete example of an early 20th-century pump that remains in its original location, and the lettering that identifies both the benefactor and manufacturer adds to its significance.