IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Underhill, STOWMARKET, IP14 1QY

Water tower as seen from The Brickfields Stowmarket, Suffolk.

A view of number 777Image], a traction engine built at St Nicholas works, Thetford. The works were run by Charles Burrell and sons and produced in 1879. Two engine ploughing was popular in those days and this, along with 776 are the oldest pair of ploughing engines in the world.

A portable engine in the Mortlock building. The engine didn't power itself along unlike traction engines. Being pulled about by horses to farms. See Image] also.

A horizontal steam engine from Wickham Market roller mill. The watermill Image] to the left and the roller mill to the right. The engine was sited in the small brick building in front of the roller mill, a large chimney stood here. The engine was ordered in 1893 to power the many rolling machines. It has a condensing unit (the blue pipe from the cylinder to the condenser is on the right) usually running at 90lbs at 95 rpm. Speed was kept constant by a Nordberg governor. Work stopped in 1957 and the engine was donated to the museum.

This view shows the spider and striking rod, connected to the sail shutters. When a gust of wind blows through the shutters force open. This tugs the spider and striking rod out. The rod, running through the cap and out the other side moves a wheel with a chained weight. The weight is pulled upwards, when the gust had gone gravity pulls the weight back to its original position. This prevents the sails being blown off. Image] See Image]

A paraffin engine on display in the Mortlock building at the Museum of East Anglian rural life. See Image]

Constructed by Deacons builders in 1918 after the First World War, the clients being Frank Mortlock & Sons of Lavenham. The Mortlocks (a father and two sons) were agricultural engineers and this became the workshop. Repairing engines, ploughs and anything agriculture. The site was in this use until the 1960s, by 1993 BP decided to sell the land for housing. Several grants saw the relocation here, erection taking place in the winter of 2004/2005.

For a company history see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ransomes,_Sims_%26_Jefferies. The building was paid for by a benefactor connected to the company, it is a complete museum telling the story of this famous East Anglian manufacturer. This engine is works 5137 (c.1881), it was exported to Ireland where Nuns used it for their needs. Later it came back to England and was restored.

See Image]

The cap of the windpump. Image The spider can be seen in the right and centre of the sails. This is connected to the striking rod, running through the windshaft. It comes out of the back, being connected to the wheel. The wheel has a chain with a weight on the end. When a gust of wind blows through the shutters open fully, tugging the spider. This moves the striking rod out, this turns the wheel. The motion lifts the weight. When the gust has passed the weight returns to its original position, as do the shutters.