Twyford Waterworks

About the museum

Twyford Waterworks is an Edwardian pumping station in the Hampshire downs, near Winchester. It was built and extended over about thirty years and still presents a coherent set of high-quality public works buildings from the early twentieth century. The site was given the status of a Scheduled Ancient Monument in 1973 and passed to the Southern Water Authority on 1 April 1974. The Twyford Waterworks Trust was set up as a charity in 1985 to run it and obtained a lease of the redundant parts of the site in 1992. Southern Water, the present owner, still draws water from the original boreholes.

A full series of steam, diesel, direct-current motor and modern electric pumps can be seen, in many cases working. The boiler house has a rank of three Babcock & Wilcox water-tube boilers, one of which the Trust has restored to steam, and it supplies steam to the 1914 Hathorn Davey triple expansion engine in the adjoining engine house.

Twyford is unusual in having both water extraction and a complete water-softening plant. Chalk was quarried on site for the five bottle lime kilns, and the Clark process softening plant, the railway incline and a two-foot gauge industrial railway all survive. A nature reserve above the lime kilns offers a nature trail with a bird hide.

Highlights

• 1914 Hathorn Davey triple expansion steam engine
• Boiler house with Babcock & Wilcox water-tube boilers, one restored to steam
• Complete water-softening plant with five bottle lime kilns
• Industrial two-foot gauge narrow gauge railway and incline
• Nature reserve with trails, pond and bird hide

Permanent exhibitions

• Steam engines and boiler house – The 1914 Hathorn Davey triple expansion engine and a boiler house with Babcock & Wilcox boilers, shown in steam on open days.
• Water softening plant and lime kilns – The Clark process softening plant with five bottle kilns, the lime mixing plant, the railway incline and the narrow gauge railway.

Operated by

Twyford Waterworks Trust (registered charity no. 291720)

Admission & discounts

Prices are without Gift Aid; with Gift Aid the adult price is £10 and the concession price £9. Tickets are bought on arrival, and cards, cash and cheques are accepted. Free guided tours are offered on open days.

Accessibility

• Partially 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

The site is on two levels, with full disabled access to the main buildings and displays and a refurbished toilet block with level access and disabled toilet facilities. Access for wheelchair users to the higher-level lime kilns and water-softening plant can be arranged with advance notice, via a gate at the rear along a bridle path of about 100 yards, then a grass slope.

Kids & families

Picnic areas and a nature trail are available; the museum offers no dedicated children’s programme on its website.

Getting there & parking

Taxis are available from Winchester station.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Tea room in the main building, open from 10:45 on open days, with hot and cold drinks, cakes, sandwiches, soup, snacks and a barbecue; a kiosk sells gifts, books, toys and cards; picnic tables around the site. Dogs are welcome on a short lead.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

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