Water Pump, circa 1870, located at the northern end of Thatcham Broadway, on the north side of Chapel Street (A4). Cast Iron, Fluted column, spout with fluted decoration and decorative bucket lug, larger upper section also fluted with fluted circular cap with finial. Pump handle lost, otherwise undamaged.
It is likely that this was the town pump, for public use. This is supported by the identification of what appears to be a very similar pump, still retaining its handle, and with an identical fluted cap and spout, although having a single plain shaft, at Cuddington in Buckinghamshire. This was also the town pump and has been listed Grade II (Buckinghamshire HER 101028200000).
The pump bears the stamp of Edwards and Godding Ltd, Newbury. The company was established in 1790 in Newbury, Berkshire and still exists, although now as a distributor of kitchen cookers and Agas. The pump cannot therefore be earlier than 1790. The HER record states that: The pump was supplied to the Thatcham Guardians from Hedges Foundry in Bucklebury in the 1870s. This is at odds with the makers mark stamped on the back of the shaft. Although it is possible that the pump was designed by Edwards & Godding and cast by Hedges.
The difference in design and appearance of this pump suggests it does not belong to the series of four water pumps elsewhere along the A4 in Thatcham. The design is very elegant and well produced, with a single cast iron pump shaft which includes the pump spout, elegantly designed with a fluted section joining it to the main shaft, as well as a decorated ornamental bucket lug on the top of the spout, and a cap with an ornate pointed finial topping the shaft. There is only a small section of the pump handle remaining, apart from this loss the pump could be said to be complete.
The HER record suggests that the pump was moved to its present location when the road arrangement and layout was changed in the 20th century.
The metalwork is of a high standard, and the majority of the monument still survives.
Gallery
Location
Open the location with: Google Maps | Bing Maps | OpenStreetMap