People in the North East are being urged to come and get steamy in Darlington this weekend.
Tees Cottage Pumping Station is opening its doors to the public and offering visitors the chance to come and experience everything the Victorian water works has to offer.
Established in 1849, in Darlington, the works used to supply water to the whole of Teesside.
The site is full of local engineering history and still has two original pumping engines; one with a two-cylinder compound steam beam engine supplied from its original Lancashire boilers and driving its original pumps.
The other engine is a two-cylinder gas engine, the largest preserved example in Europe, also driving its original pumps. The engines are superb examples of Victorian architecture.
There is lots to see and do, from watching the miniature railway in action, admiring the iron work in the smithy, seeing first hand the site still able to pump water to relaxing in the tearoom.
The station only opens to the public five times a year and so this weekend is a rare chance for people to get behind the scenes.
Northumbrian Water owns Tees Cottage Pumping Station and contribute towards much of the maintenance expense however volunteers help keep the site running for opening days to the public. All money raised during opening days is invested into the continued improvements to this ancient monument.
Phil Doran, Chairman of Tees Cottage Pumping Station, said; “We’re looking forward to opening the doors to the public this weekend and welcoming visitors to this unique heritage site.
“I feel privileged to be the chairman and proud to be part of the team of amazing volunteers who help to look after it and making it possible for it to open to the public.”
Tees Cottage Pumping Station is open to the public between 11:00-17:00 (last entry 16:00) on Saturday and Sunday, 24-25 June. The site is located to the River Tees on Coniscliffe Road, Darlington DL3 8FT.
Visitors with mobility issues and parents with pushchairs, can gain access to much of the site however due to development laws, some areas of the site are not accessible to wheelchairs and mobility scooters.
There is a small entrance charge of £4.50 for adults, £3.50 for concessions and children under the age of 15 go FREE.
For more information about Tees Cottage Pumping Station please visit > www.teescottage.co.uk or find them on Facebook.
Interested in becoming a volunteer? There are some volunteering opportunities available to join the fantastic team at Tees Cottage Pumping Station!
From helping out in the tearoom, to managing the gas engine, controlling the beam engine, looking after the boiler, to helping in the smithy and to doing general maintenance work around the site.
For further information please e-mail Phil Doran at, chairman@teescottage.co.uk