Abbey Pumping Station

I really love the Pumping station and if you’re a photographer a good place to take interesting photos. They often have steam days when the pumps are working and it may have a ghost. Kids love the old style toilets and interesting machinery, totally educational. For a different afternoon out go and see it. It was free last time I went so excellent value.

Based in the old Abbey Sewage Pumping Station, this is what I knew as a child to be the technology museum, and is free except for special events. Inside there are buttons to push, handles to crank, ropes to pull, drums to spin, and a plastic poo to flush (this is the best bit as far as the kids are concerend). In adult terms, this means you are looking at how knitting machines work, how electricity is generated, why trams run on rails, and how the moving picture industry started, plus how and why the buildings original use was needed. Outside there are static displays of old industrial machines and equipment, a modern junk-​art rocket ship (can you see the alien?), plus a real life tardis. The building also houses one of the countrys operating victorian beam engines, which is in steam on certain special days (Christmas is always lovely with the brass band playing in the upper gallery). Special events include model railway days, steam traction events, and in the summer there is also a small narrow guage steam engine often running that you can ride on for virtual pennies. Parking is in the Space Centre carpark, with some disabled spaces on site on non-​special-​event days (access from Corporation Road). Access is generally good — there is a small lift into the lower level of the pumping room which you have to call an attendant for, but upper levels are by stairs only.