Coultershaw Heritage Site

About the museum

Coultershaw beside the River Rother near Petworth is an example of 18th-century industry in the countryside. Corn mills stood here from before 1086 until 1973. The beam pump was installed in 1782 next to the mill to supply water to Petworth House and the town, about one and a half miles to the north. A waterwheel drives the three pump barrels through long timber beams, an unusual design that gives an almost straight pumping action, and the pump still sends up a spout of water.

The site also lay on the Rother Navigation, a river and canal route built between 1791 and 1794 that closed in 1888, on the Petworth to Chichester turnpike diverted here in 1800, and near the Mid Sussex Railway line to Petworth, which ran from 1859 to 1966. The corn mill burnt down in 1923, was replaced by a concrete mill, stopped working in 1972 and was demolished in 1973. Today the sluices, the turbine pit and the engine house remain.

The Coultershaw Trust, formed in 2002 by the Petworth Society and the Sussex Industrial Archaeology Society, cares for the site with volunteers and no paid staff. Visitors can see the beam pump, an Archimedes screw turbine that generates electricity, hand pumps in the engine house, the canal basin with the remains of a lock, warehouses and stables, and a fish ladder.

Highlights

• Beam pump of 1782 driven by a waterwheel
• Archimedes screw hydro turbine
• Engine house with hand pumps to try
• Canal basin with remains of the Rother Navigation lock, warehouses and stables
• Fish ladder and riverside wildlife

Permanent exhibitions

• Beam pump and waterwheel – The waterwheel drives the 1782 beam pump, which produces a high water spout when running.
• Archimedes screw hydro generator – A turbine in one of the old sluices uses river water to generate electricity and can be seen on open days.

Founded

1980

Operated by

Coultershaw Trust (registered charity)

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Entry is free; donations are gratefully received.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Wheelchair access over nearly all of the site, including a view of the waterwheel. Paths near the river are uneven in places and can be soft after heavy rain. Dogs are welcome.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations

A riverside Wind in the Willows trail is available throughout the open season, and family events with craft activities are held during the year. Children can try the hand pumps in the engine house.

Getting there & parking

The site lies beside the River Rother on Station Road.

Amenities & dining

Tea and coffee are served on event days.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

The North Warehouse can be hired by groups.

Plan your visit