IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Tower Hill, DROITWICH, WR9 8AF

Preserved gas engine in Droitwich's last working brine well. I believe similar plant from another well is preserved at Droitwich High School - has anybody got pictures?

My sister Patricia and our dog Rupert wait patiently while I photograph this unexpected bit of industrial heritage. I've lived in Droitwich for 30 years and found this today. It is the last working brine pump in Droitwich and supplies the open air baths and the private hospital with brine using an electric submersible pump. The original plant survives in part and consists of a gas engine and a diesel or semi-diesel (hot bulb) engine with some C Isler well pump gear. This original plant was retired in the 70s. The plant can be seen through the grilled window.

Diesel or semi-diesel in the background with the well pump gear extending towards the photographer. The railings on the left encircle the well containing the modern electric pump.

The church stands on a hill above Droitwich

A modern block very close to the historic centre of town.

Looking west at the south side of the street. The buildings show signs of the subsidence due to brine extraction over the centuries.

Set back 35 metres from the south side of High Street. The Visit Droitwich Spa website states that this is the only operational well in Droitwich Spa. Fully saturated brine rises under artesian pressure which produces a naturally occurring continuous overflow into the canal and River Salwarpe from springs and old wells in the Vines Park and Vines Lane areas. The Tower Hill well is set at a level that prevents brine overflowing. Tower Hill brine well was constructed in the 1890s but does not appear to have been used until 1921. The brine pumping equipment on view http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5281333 is that which was originally installed. By 1970 it was decided to replace the reciprocating pumps and the gas and oil engines with an electric submersible pump. Eventually the early brine pumping equipment was taken out and removed to the High School for public display, where it remained for 16 years until reinstallation here in 2002.

Inside this http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5281324 building

Set back 35 metres from the south side of High Street. The Visit Droitwich Spa website states that this is the only operational well in Droitwich Spa. Fully saturated brine rises under artesian pressure which produces a naturally occurring continuous overflow into the canal and River Salwarpe from springs and old wells in the Vines Park and Vines Lane areas. The Tower Hill well is set at a level that prevents brine overflowing. Tower Hill brine well was constructed in the 1890s but does not appear to have been used until 1921. The brine pumping equipment on view http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5281333 is that which was originally installed. By 1970 it was decided to replace the reciprocating pumps and the gas and oil engines with an electric submersible pump. Eventually the early brine pumping equipment was taken out and removed to the High School for public display, where it remained for 16 years until reinstallation here in 2002.