Village pump, The Square, Clough, Downpatrick, Co Down

A late Victorian cast iron water pump, likely dating from around the 1880s, is situated in The Square, the heart of the small village of Clough. This good example of a working pump features a central fluted pillar with a spout and a domed cap topped with a mushroom-like finial. Operation is achieved via two large ‘wheels’ and a handle on the north side. The immediate area is landscaped with granite paving, wider paved area made of brick surrounds the pump. The pump was largely disused and suffered vandalism by the second half of the 20th century, but was restored to working order around 1993. The pump demonstrates industrial archaeological interest and holds local significance, reflecting the village’s social and economic history. Ownership is by the local government. Historic records from the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) include an Ordnance Survey plan of 1901 and a valuation plan from 1935-1956.