Wokingham

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charvil, 2011 A strikingly painted one on the Old Bath Rd., at Charvil, Wokingham. Photo on left supplied by Tom Hine - thanks, Tom - who has now passed on the following information from Mr. G. Wise and Mrs. A. Curtis of Twyford Local History Group: "The pump was installed in 1754 and renovated in the 1970s by Ronald HEARN, and is now maintained by the Parish Council and nicely painted black and red. The pump was on the Old Bath Road, a Turnpike for more than a century during the 1700s and 1800s. It was the old coaching road from London to Bath and two or three pumps were located on the south side of the Turnpike in this area at two mile intervals. The pump was used by cottage tenants, horse drawn coaches, steam engines and for keeping the dusty dirt roads watered. The Turnpike was set up in 1736 by the Maidenhead Turnpike Trust and used to collect Tolls until abolished by Parliament in 1864." Thanks to Dave Hunt for the photos on the right.

Markings: None.

Manufacturer: It has been suggested that it was made by Hedges of Bucklebury.
charvil, 2014

charvil, 2014

earley, 2015 Earley, Wokingham. Thanks to Graham Wignall for the photos.

Markings: Confirmed as having none.

Manufacturer: Unk.
earley, 2015

hurst, 2015 Outside a cottage in Hurst, Wokingham. Thanks to Mike Woolford for the photo.

Markings: Confirmed as having none.

Manufacturer: Unk.

sonning In the High St at Sonning, Wokingham. Thanks to Mike Woolford for the pre-2012 photo on the left, and to Dave Hunt for the 2017 photos on the right. The cast iron pump carries the inscription: sonning, 2017 sonning, 2017
THE
GIFT OF

Rt PALMER ESQ.

FOR
THE USE OF THE
INHABITANTS
OF

SONNING
MDCCCXLVI
Robert Palmer (1793-1872) was an influential Bloomsbury lawyer, who inherited Holme Park in 1806, became a magistrate in 1815, High Sheriff in 1818 and Chairman of Quarter Sessions 1840-1864. He served as MP for Berkshire 1825-1831 and 1832-1859. He was a local benefactor who supplied much of the funding to build St John’s Church at Woodley, and his will provided for the Robert Palmer Almshouse Charity in Sonning.
The pump was restored in 2012, and a plaque records:
THIS PALMER PUMP
WAS REFURBISHED WITH FUNDS
RAISED IN JUNE 2012
BY SONNING SCARECROW.
Markings: At the base: "BARRETT EXALL & ANDREWES", "ENGINEERS READING".

Manufacturer: Barrett Exall & Andrewes, of Reading.

twyford, 2016 twyford, 2016 Two pumps at Stanlake Park Winery, near Twyford, Wokingham, are identical models except for their counterweights, although one has had its spout lengthened. Thanks to Mike Woolford for the photos.

Markings: None.

Manufacturer: Unk.

wokingham, 2015 In a garden at Wokingham, Wokingham, this pump has since been brought back to full working condition. Thanks to Graham Wignall for the photos.

Markings: "PW".

Manufacturer: Unk - there is only one other reported instance of an existing pump with this marking - in Chewton Mendip,Soms.
wokingham, 2015

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