Chilcote Pumping Station

Pumping station, 1935-1936, to the designs of South Staffordshire Waterworks chief engineer, Frederic John Dixon.

MATERIALS: constructed from red brick laid in Flemish bond with limestone dressings.

PLAN: roughly square on plan, with the principal elevation facing east.

EXTERIOR: a single-storey, double-height building of three bays in a neo-classical style. It has a rusticated stone plinth with openings to the basement, balanced by a deep stone parapet. The principal façade is symmetrical, and has a central projecting porch above the plinth, with large windows to either side. The porch is accessed by a short flight of steps, and contains double doors with a moulded architrave. Above a panel is inscribed ‘CHILCOTE PUMPING STATION’ and has relief mouldings to either side. The porch has a shaped parapet of moulded stone and a central label, and banded brickwork that continues across the main elevation. Above, there is polychromatic brickwork and another panel, inscribed ‘SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE / WATERWORKS COMPANY /1935’. The large windows are lined in brick and have ogee arches with brick and tile detailing and a stone scroll keystone. Windows are metal-framed with glazing bars forming multiple lights. There is a window above on either side with marginal, oval and radial glazing bars. A stone string course articulates the parapet, which consists of a band of brick with diamond patterns, topped with stepped moulded stone. The roof, concealed by the parapet, is hipped with a central glazed section. The elevation has stepped angles, and return elevations are double-height with windows as on the principal elevation. The building steps down to a single storey towards the rear, where detailing is pared back: windows have flat arches with chamfered stone lintels.

INTERIOR: the main space within the building is the double-height engine hall; it is lit by the large windows on three sides, and a glazed lantern in the hipped roof. Two wells are surrounded by tubular railings, serviced from above by a gantry crane manufactured by Herbert Morris Ltd of Loughborough. There is a scheme of red tiling to the base of the walls, a soldier course of green tiles, and cream tiles above. Moulded stone is used for architraves and a wide bresummer, and features stepped angles and nailhead motifs. Some panelled and glazed timber doors survive. The roof is supported on steel trusses with braces and rods. A foundation plaque records the dates of construction, directors, secretary and engineer. The single-storey section of the building to the rear contains the manager’s offices and toilets.