Basingstoke's Mystery - Can you Solve It?

Welcome to the Disclaimer: Matt really does like Basingstoke. Honest!
This week we explore a small stretch of the "Last Five Miles" of the Basingstoke Canal in search of a Mystery Pumping Engine.
What was this for?
This is a family friendly video (well it would be if it wasn't for Matt) where we explore some abandoned Mill Like remains. Could they be related to the canal and its lack of water?
If you enjoy the channel and would like to help chip in for a coffee or two, or perhaps join us with the KZbin Members and Patreons in our live streams, please do check out any of the following links:
/ everydisusedstation
www.paulwhitewick.co.uk
ko-fi.com/everydisusedstation
PayPal: [e-mail]
Merch: teespring.com/en-GB/stores/ev...
Buy our Prints: www.littlefashionhut.com/coll...

[@pwhitewick]

Update 1) www.bas-herit-soc.org/ 2) Apologies for the giggles at the start. Matt was born I Basingstoke to all in good jest.

[@DropdudeJohn]

Basingjoke or Basingrad, from an Altonians perspective

[@steve.b.23]

@@DropdudeJohn A couple of friends who used to live there call it Boringstoke.

[@robjchristopher]

@@steve.b.23 I'm from Fleet - we used to call it Amazingstoke!

[@Neilhuny]

Update 1 is interesting:it was used to supply the big house with water in an elegant way!

[@benlarge1984]

No need for apologies for the giggles, as someone born and who lives in Basingstoke, he's not wrong

[@daveball3414]

I knew this area well when Barton mill was owned by Commander Bulldock and all the mill mechanism was still intact. My father was a member of a local industrial archeology society and we went to photograph the canal pumping house. This was over 50 years ago when it was still possible to follow the canal bed just into Basingstoke although by then the old wharves had been filled in under the then new bus station. The amount of historical evidence that was destroyed by the redevelopment of Basingstoke was criminal.

[@aengusmacnaughton1375]

Not only do you say, "Matt's exciting thing." (and Rebecca grins in the background) -- but then you repeat it! Shout-out for Matt!!!! 😃

[@whydoihavetoify]

I was working at a property on the old hackwood estate a few years back and talking to the gardener about the stream and small bridges in the garden and he explained that water used to be pumped from Crabtree plantation which is only a couple of hundred yards from where you were filming that has has 2 buildings that could be pump houses

[@chrisbeeason]

I've walked the entire length of the basingstoke canal including the derelict part East of greywell tunnel. I've seen every old bridge which still remains, the ones that part remain and the ones which used to be. I've seen that tunnel before as it comes out beside the path coming out of (what the locals call) the dog fields, but I have never seen that pumping station. Good video and I might have to go check that place out myself as I can easily pin point it from this video. Ill try and do a bit of research and ill speak with the basingstoke canal authority and also the basingstoke canal society and ill see what I can find out.

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Chris

[@wgoodiew]

@@pwhitewick Being a train driver I pass some of Basing canal but there's a structure I pass everytime I go to London. I can't see a path that runs near by but what I do know is its near Brookwood. It's a brick structure near Saturn trail, Brookwood but I can't see it very well or what purpose it has travelling at 90mph past it.

[@18robsmith]

Water drive pump - what you are looking at is the wheel that drove a pump which is probably not visible from the outside. Have a look at the Semmington pump on the K&A where a small stream drives a wheel which drives a pump to lift water up to the canal a good few feet above the stream level. (btw - Who else was waiting for Paul to be given assistance in getting through that opening by the application of an accurately applied foot to his rear end?)

[@stephensaines7100]

Indeed: You'd be utilizing 'mechanical advantage' to juxtapose a greater volume falling 2 feet to lift a lesser volume (say half minus losses due to inefficiency) to twice the height. In effect, you have a 'gear box'.

[@zebrabing]

Definately a water wheel drives the pump. Still used to this day for a small stream to pump blocks of water up to a higher level.

[@bostonrailfan2427]

she was tempted…at least I think it was Rebecca

[@carl5652]

They have this system in dinefwr Castle in Llandeilo, its to pump water from the flood plain,up to tanks up on the hill incase of a fire in the house.

[@alcord2540]

In the late 1960s and early 70s I was an apprentice engineer for the mod in Farnborough.I worked with wilf harmsworth.At the time the canal was badly overgrown and a rubbish tip.Wilfs family had been canal barge hauliers on the canal,mainly carrying coal.He and a group of Volunteers were determined to reclaim the canal.They managed to get some council support and several years later he left to work on the restoration.I think they did a great job.

[@lindamccaughey6669]

That was just fantastic thanks. What a gorgeous tunnel that was. Love the area too was very pretty and of course I love the history. Thanks for taking me along, please stay safe and take care

[@markkilley2683]

An amazing old canal.

[@travelmat8744]

Great video guys. In other news - I used to work with Matt!

[@pwhitewick]

I feel for you.....

[@sampointau]

In the shots of the driving cogs on the other side of the the water wheel, did you miss the near vertical pistons Shaft coming down? I have seen before where a wide water wheel, wide to give more constant torque, is used to drive a single or dual piston water pump that also draws it's water from the wheel race. It wouldn't need to pump hundreds of thousands of gallons per hour to keep a canal topped up or maybe pump to a reservoir which then fed the canal, Generally near a lock pondage.

[@TrevsTravelsByNarrowboat]

Hi Paul & Rebecca. I lived in the area for over 20 years, and I did go to the old pump house, with an older friend that took me there. He told me that his grandfather told him it was for pumping water to Hackwood Estates.

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Trev... so that would imply the water flow of that brook pumped water using the wheel..... I think.

[@TrevsTravelsByNarrowboat]

@@pwhitewick I think so, that was how it was explained to me I think. It was nearly 40 years ago. BTW I also told that where the River Loden now flows through Eastrop Park is the original line of the canal. Not sure about that after looking at old maps, but the alignment is not far off

[@Buckey033]

There are quite a few remnants of the canal in old Basing still there. A few bridges and the ditch is still at the back of the houses near the hatch pub!

[@Rickg6uzt]

A fine Vulf t-shirt Mat!

[@trevorparker6803]

I think you answered your own question right near the start of this film. You say that last section of canal was troubled by a water shortage (probably because it was the last section beyond the final lock in an ascent), so it seems to make sense that a local water source would be used to top it up. The pumping station would take advantage of the flow of the river to turn the wheel with the attached gearing used to pump water to the canal - I expect that section of canal has some kind of rudimentary device which kicks in the pump when the level drops below a certain mark. Probably it was unreliable, or the river did not have enough water to continuously supply when needed, and as such it led to that last bit of canal falling into disuse.

[@missbecca5667]

You tube terrifies me, why this was recommended I had no idea … then I saw Matt.

[@andyhill242]

Loved the graphic showing Paul's legs sticking out of the window. A Very bizarre thing for October and Halloween, I've been inside that pumping house building in a dream!

[@pwhitewick]

Hahah..... I thought no body would see that!

[@andyhill242]

@@pwhitewick I have a sharp eye for silliness! 🙃

[@bostonrailfan2427]

had to look again, funny little graphic joke there!

[@jennyd255]

Yes, if I can recall my knowledge from the days of my youth, when I used to give talks on canal archeology, there were a number of places on the system where a small drop powered a water wheel, which in turn then powered a pump to raise a smaller amount of water through a rather larger distance. Obviously the principles of gearing, and conservation of energy, meant that for this to work, you had to have a larger flow going down the smaller drop, to lift a smaller flow up the larger distance, but this wasn't a problem where there was a well supplied stream flowing nearby, but at a lower level than the canal. That still doesn't explain the tunnel though.

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Jenny, that actually fits well.

[@timnoakes8932]

Is the tunnel just the lower level outlet from the water wheel for the spent driving water? The amount of water raised by the piston pump to the canal will have been in proportion to the fall of the wheel (amongst other factors). Therefore it is vital to maximise the fall, and maybe the tunnel was part of that? I’ve seen this tunneled wheel exit concept on other water wheels eg Greg’s Mill, styal. Regarding the age of the tunnel, it s probable that it was added sometime later, as the canal originally relied on abundant springs around greywell. However, the water table subsequently began falling, and the canal company began a search for top-up water. This looks like one of these later initiatives. Maybe they learnt this from the neighbouring K&A, who have an example of this concept at Claverton, now preserved and running. Cheers. Tim

[@malcolmsmith6615]

I’m 99% certain it was a water driven pump, just like Claverton pumping station on the K&A canal near Bath. A stream turned the water wheel (flow and speed regulated by the sluice), and the wheel drove a mechanical pump via the gearing. The pump lifted water to a separate channel (probably culverted) to the canal. I’m not sure what the tunnel was for, but almost certainly to carry other buildings or an access road that was (maybe) gone by the time the map was produced. The fact it has a water wheel rules it out a steam powered pump, and the fact it is clearly called a “pump” on the map means its only purpose is to lift water. Also, it appears too low to hold a beam engine, plus there is no sign of a boiler house, coal store or demolished chimney. Check out Claverton because it is a blue print for this (just a scale change perhaps).

[@bostonrailfan2427]

you see the gears in the background, it makes sense and is a simple and cheap method

[@colinlothlorian]

The existence of the sluice gate tells that it was a water wheel rather than a scoop wheel for lifting water, so I agree.

[@sddsddean]

Agreed...I immediately thought of Claverton on a smaller scale. Don't forget, on early maps an 'engine' didn't necessarily mean steam or something. It indicates any bit of machinery. The side by side map certainly shows a footpath going over the tunnel; maybe at the time it was more of a road(?). As the area shown is obviously damp, if not wet, it might not even have been necessary to pump from a well or bore hole, but just pump the water that was 'laying around'..., but it its still a bit of a mystery!

[@Bicyclehub]

I'm also sure that this theory is correct. Maybe the tunnel was a kind of bypass for water in a flood? It's a very wet place.

[@jim7221]

Reckon you are spot on!

[@R-bobo]

I'm a true Hampshire hog and was born in Basingstoke in a place called the Shrubbery. Great video guys

[@justvin7214]

Me too, when we were kids and it was mentioned it used to start a rendition of Monty Python's Holy Grail and the Knights that say Ni.

[@stephenlaw8860]

Blackdam was once part of a large marshy area known as Basingfields. At some point the stream was dammed to form ponds, marked on a map dating back to 1762 as Mill Head, Upper and Lower Fish Ponds. The springs were known as "newrams", 'ram" meaning pipe, and they were being used as a water supply for Hackwood House until recent times. The old pump house can still be seen in Redbridge Lane. Once abandoned, the ponds began to silt up and be 'reclaimed' by wildlife. In 1971 Hampshire Wildlife Trust took over the site in order to maximise its wildlife and educational potential. local volunteers and Trust staff have worked together to provide better access and educational facilities for use by local schoolchildren. Pond dipping platforms, boardwalking and information signs have all been installed.

[@piearm1271]

2:19; what was on Rebecca’s mind, a charming smile.

[@Jimfowler82]

This was run by 1 billion hamsters on a moving wheel. But due to the animal wellfair changes they had to stop using hamsters and used a engine instead

[@shirleylynch7529]

Great vlog. Matt quite funny. Mind you we loved your find on your trek. Thank you. Most enjoyable

[@Kyle-Russell]

You should come to the Aldershot section off the basingstoke Canal as we have a number off interning military artefact’s and a number off old train lines

[@michaelcampin1464]

I spent a fortnight in Basingstoke at the Civil (?) Service College back in 1982. It was lovely town. Thank you for reminding me of time spent in the bar

[@pwhitewick]

We go there often too.

[@barfly946]

Basingstoke " lovely " , can I have some of the drugs you were on ?

[@michaelcampin1464]

@@barfly946 well I was in the bar for a fortnight on my so called induction course and never did anything towards an induction as I'd only just left the forces so I think I was on vodka for a full fortnight

[@michaelcampin1464]

@@pwhitewick I've just discovered a hidden tunnel between the River Wear and the old pit railways around Sunderland. Pity it's really bricked up but I've found a picture of a Class 20 ( type 2) hauling a coal train on the way to the staithes

[@michaelcampin1464]

@@pwhitewick my father was stationed in Winchester,the old English Capital, but I didn't see too much of Basingstoke as I was "confined" for 2 weeks at Alencon Links for a conversion course from RM to the Civil Service. I spent a fortnight supping vodka in the bar as I'd already been in the military.

[@kitkatv3]

= Barnard star. Oh. No. Forget that. It’s the Basingstoke roundabout that’s referred to as Barnard Star in Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy. Great video. Thanks for sharing with us your adventure today.

[@MrShotlighter]

Looking at the shot of the gearing, there's what looks like a connecting rod dropping from roughly the upper gears axis. Presumably the pump cylinder(s?) piston is attached to the rods lower end.

[@soundhobo]

Used to play in that area in the early 70’s as a kid and I remember the old pump house. I swear you could follow the line of the old canal as well. Was the nearby, now boating lake a pound for additional water for the last part of the Basingstoke canal? Great video with plenty of happy memories 👍

[@oliverpearcey2777]

This is almost certainly a water wheel driven pump supplying either the canal or more probably a house - the suggestion of Hackwood House by a another commenter seems likely. There is a rather larger version of this sort of set up, re-erected at the London Museum of Water & Steam, which pumped water from the River Frome to the Duke of Somerset's estate and the village of Maiden Bradley.

[@slobberdownifyouwant8287]

The carparks where you parked are the lime pits ( known after dark horizontal jogging location ). I was told once that water was pumped from the river loddon up to the old hospital (work house) and also into the village of basing also the watercress beds which were located not from from where you were. Not sure how accurate this information is but the old guy that told me was born and lived his life not far from there.

[@pwhitewick]

Now that is a phrase I have never heard of!! Thanks for the info

[@Otacatapetl]

@@pwhitewick Might be rhyming slang...

[@slobberdownifyouwant8287]

If my memory serves me there used to be an old Thornycroft engine sign there, although would probably date around the turn of the last century and maybe nothing to do with the old pump house. Many magical hours spent playing around there in the early 80s we used to regularly dig up old clay smokers pipe

[@bohicajohnson7203]

@@pwhitewick Horizontal folk dancing, yes. Horizontal jogging, no.

[@Tara-li6pg]

Does everyone just know the lime pits for that now hahaha. I did notice there where gates up now so it must be more popular than I thought.

[@MrJasdog107]

love your freind Matt .

[@pwhitewick]

We do too.

[@marktownsend9333]

Brilliant video 👍

[@TheNon-DigArtist]

I've driven on that part of the ring road countless times before without knowing what was just beyond the barrier. Great video! :-)

[@MrGreatplum]

Excellent stuff - you found a thing! I’ve no idea what it is but a very enjoyable video!

[@ianlainchbury]

Great work guys! Interesting stuff. Great humour. Rebecca looks well glam too! ;) Thank you!

[@janetpowell4571]

You guys are so amazing love all your vidios

[@johnsomerset1510]

I've seen similar pumps in old mines powered by a stream in the mine and used to de-water the mine. So, I guess in this case, the waterwheel is driven by the two feet drop in water level each side of the pump house. The gears on the Wheel shaft drive a crankshaft mounted on the steel frame in the pictures. The crankshaft should be situated directly above a 'well' that is sunk into the ground and is kept full by a small amount of the water from the waterwheel flow. The well should contain the metal pump cylinder and piston and have a strainer on the bottom end. The crankshaft rotates and drives the piston up and down via the brown coloured connecting rod, which seems to be visible at 7:57. The water is forced passed check valves and up a pipe (probably cast iron) on the side of the pump and out and up to the nearby canal. You should try to get in to the shed and look for the pump, but it will be deep under water in the well, with just the connecting rod(s) sticking out and the crankshaft in the pictures. It might have two cylinders, brass bearings and grease cups etc and even be double acting. It's just a hunch anyway.

[@Canalsman]

Good video and having an interest in the Basingstoke Canal dating back to the 1960s, and having assisted in its restoration, it's always good to see new content. I don't know the western end well so I can't offer advice on the pumping station but I don't recall ever reading about it in any canal related publication in some 50 years. I suspect it is not canal related. At the beginning of the video when you were looking to find the course of the canal to the east of the A339 I agree some of it has been covered with earth works from the road building. But on the satellite view there is a clearly identifiable line of trees following the former canal route. The remains of the bed must be within those trees. The LiDAR imagery confirms that. Whilst using the National Library of Scotland web pages on my tablet it is possible to show your GPS location. I presume that you know of this feature but for some reason don't use whilst exploring. Is there a reason?

[@eddiek0507]

Great Video, Bit of a strange one this... 🤔👍

[@piearm1271]

Regards the pumping engine, my guess would be the wheel was driven by the water and the gearing then drove a pump to lift the water. Can’t remember 5he name of the canal feeder near Bath. Locally to me at Painshill Park the river Mole drives a pump to feed the ornamental lakes.

[@raphaelnikolaus0486]

I love the graphics (especially in regards to the pumping engine) in this video :D

[@robinhayhurst5943]

So....after calling it "Matt's Exciting thing" before we saw it...it became his "wonderful little relic" after seeing it! Poor Matt!

[@iamcanalboy]

Story of my life.

[@robinhayhurst5943]

@@iamcanalboy I feel your pain!

[@ReubenAshwell]

Very interesting video here. :) I wonder what they even used that pumping engine for.

[@HenrysAdventures]

Another great video!

[@pwhitewick]

Cheers Henry

[@briancjohnson]

Basingstoke, rise up! Just because you're only notable for your roundabout doesn't mean you have to take this sort of abuse! ;) Thank y'all for another wonderfully informative vid!

[@tardismole]

6:36 Looks like someone from a rival channel saw the Whitewicks coming and left a message. To which someone else responded with an appropriate response underneath. And who said Britain had no sense of humour? And a very amusing addition of Rebecca's foot. Great video. I look forward to hearing what you find out about this mystery.

[@pauljones1350]

The guy that locks carpark is on his annual vacation 1st April till 18th April perhaps lol

[@pwhitewick]

Good call.

[@johngravett3568]

Hi Paul the water pump in todays video was once used to pump water to hackwood house

[@fumthings]

does the carpark remain open or remain locked then?

[@alexwade4370]

Been on that exact path in the woods 😂

[@dilwyn1]

Fascinating!! Curiosity now aroused i must do some research into this as well. Strange to have an engine lifting only two feet?? More to this than meats the eye!! Thanks Paul & Rebecca, look forward to the next one.☺☺

[@pwhitewick]

Keep us posted if you find anything else. We would love to know.

[@christopherthompson2078]

Excellent video .a lot of people spent a lot of time restoring the canal to the tunnel. At the back of the tunnel. The traffic noise is not good I wouldn't bother trying to restore it .unless you like earplugs x

[@johngravett3568]

Hi Paul the water pump in todays video was once used to pump water to hackwood house

[@malcolmsmith6615]

Don’t forget that waterwheel driven pumps took several forms. An unusual example is built into the aqueduct at Lordings Lock on the Wey and Arun.

[@pwhitewick]

Good Point Malcolm

[@simonballard6413]

A very interesting canal altogether. Wish they could re-open Greywell tunnel!

[@paulmartin7241]

Full of bats now which are protected by law

[@a11csc]

nice one

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Chris.

[@mileshigh1321]

An explore that makes you go Hmmmmmm! More research will be needed unless someone in here has an answer! Always nice to see Matt! He is slightly rumpled looking, funny as hell! and always has good info and finds great places! No way i could put my head and face into an unknow window or hole like Paul!

[@pwhitewick]

Haha..... a perfect description of Matt!

[@tonydewey3023]

Very interesting guys and girls

[@neiloneil3854]

Brilliant

[@gresvig2507]

My thought would be a water adder, basically, if you can find some beam foundations and a covered pit. At couple feet across a wheel doesn't do much for making power, but could turn a walking beam pump at a constant slow speed as long as the water flowed. If there's a lot of groundwater in the area, it could be pumping it up and adding to the discharge-- you said the canals had trouble getting enough water in the area, so a trouble free way to pump up a limited amount of groundwater with already occurring flow might be appealing. I'm reminded of a mine in Scotland (I don't remember the name, my research was years ago) that had a beam engine pumping water out, no rotation, just up and down with a steam piston and the piston down the mine. It wasn't doing well, so the company pulled out, taking the extremely valuable steam system with it, leaving the beam and lower pump (it was a very early engine, so the steam stuff was still super expensive and everything else was wood ) Locals still wanted to mine a bit for their own use, so they made a sluice from a stream nearby (only a few feet above the mine) and replaced the steam cylinder with just a giant bucket with a tilting mechanism that would fill, pull up on the pump rod a bit, then spill itself, letting the pump rod back down. It didn't move MUCH water, but it ran 24/7, so it did enough to keep a few levels dry so the locals could get their coal.

[@shaunt7175]

When I was researching the land to find ownership to make an offer just south of the canal curve labeled as 486 577 on 1914 maps was watercress beds which used to supply watercress for london. The beds are still visible today so maybe it was used to control level of the beds before been fed into the canal or power the buildings around the beds visible on 1914 maps. Reason for the bridge was to serve the footpath to gain access to the fields in middle of the stream and canal as had little to no access due to springs and swamps.

[@rontanser9369]

Wow that was very interesting yes I wonder what that wheelhouse and water wheel was actually used for ??

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Ron. Likewise.

[@Jimyjames73]

A very interesting mystery 😉🤔🚂🚂🚂

[@tonyjesshope6861]

Watercress bed management of water levels!

[@SteamCrane]

7:32 - Hard to believe this isn't a listed building. Square tooth gears, must have been quite noisy, and a lot of friction loss. Modern Involute gear tooth profile was invented by Euler in 1760, apparently hadn't become established in UK when these gears were made. Also the iron(?) water wheel buckets. I wonder where the gears and buckets were made, locally or shipped in. Very large heavy castings, not a backwoods blacksmith job.

[@hammerandspannerman1]

The wheel would have driven a pump from the gear train at the end. Have a look for the Coltashaw beam pump near Petworth. .

[@john3Lee]

I'm going to suggest, there was a beam engine driving that wheel, and the 2 foot to the water was the intake, and the outflow was higher when they ran the pump.. It would not be marked on the old maps as a pump house, if it was a river run mill wheel... Did you get on top of the building ? Another great video btw !!

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks John... the issue was the outflow was 2ft lower. Even the brickwork on that side would not allow a higher exit. Still can't get my head around it.

[@marcdebruin2425]

Intriguing little building! I think the start of the video is a little bit confusing for viewers who are new to the channel. They might think: what is this all about?

[@milowadlin]

Interesting music!

[@rexgeorg7324]

fascinating find guys

[@pwhitewick]

Cheers Rex

[@rexgeorg7324]

@@pwhitewick 🙉

[@jmarsh3347]

Wow, a pumping engine. There's even a drawing of it on the wall.

[@lorrainemerry8661]

Rebecca always looks glamorus

[@davidorf3921]

OK looking at the 1873 map it would suggest that there was a stream to the north of the pumping engine that fed down via sluices to the outlet stream of the pumping engine, the whole area is labeled liable to flooding so perhaps they were using the natural flow of water to power a pump, possibly to take water from that area and pump it up into the canal .

[@Sim0nTrains]

Lovely interesting find.... that was a awesome Matt's exciting thing you found!

[@bobsrailrelics]

Ok you showed briefly a sign saying Swing Bridge cottages. Could this be something to do with the mechanism for a swing bridge? Great video and find.

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Bob.... we don't think so but thats no a definite

[@tonyclough9844]

The way to tell an undershot wheel, which I think it is the paddles stick out from solid wheel. An over shot wheel, have bucket paddles that hold the water.

[@johnfoster3286]

The car park is in use between 1st and 19th April for the purpose of dogging, probably by the people employed to lock it at other times of the year.

[@kevinmartin7760]

So this machinery, whatever its purpose, was enclosed in a building that provided no entry way to service or adjust said machinery? How would that sluice gate have been adjusted?

[@davidsummerfield2594]

There may be Bats in that old Pump house so its off limits!

[@Hairnicks]

That is a mystery, great find, please do some more research, I would love to know what it was. Thank you for recording it and making it so interesting.

[@pwhitewick]

I am hoping my inbox will tell me soon!

[@michaelcarey]

Thumbs up for Matt's Vulfpeck t-shirt! :-)

[@memofromessex]

That's a genuinely a great find.

[@pwhitewick]

Tis isn't it. Would love to know more!

[@philipp1767]

The area in question is and was referred to as the watercress beds. Further along (heading north) towards basing clinic there are those that are still functional. I would hazard a guess that the pumping house was a water wheel driven pumping station providing water for the masonry cress beds adjacent. Rather than running the beds linear with the water flow, more economic in space

[@col3631]

It's a petty the Basingstoke canal & Alton light railway can't be restored, albeit as a bridleway.

[@bostonrailfan2427]

everybody sing “Matt’s exciting thing. Come see Matt’s exciting thing. It’s been hiding for so long, Matt’s exciting thing. It’ll change your history, Matt’s exciting thing!” you didn’t notice it but in another video the actual pump mechanism is just to the bottom right behind the water wheel. you can see it at 08:12 in the lower right

[@stanleyclark7758]

A great find. This ought to be fully researched and correctly preserved for posterity. Thanks for the great vlogs Paul & Rebecca. Take care.

[@bobparsons77]

Great..nothing like it in my area of Alberta.

[@paulosullivan3472]

There is a big sign on the 1800's map stating "liable to floods". I would suggest therefore that perhaps this pumping house was not to supply water to the canal but rather to pump excess water from floods into a drainage channel? Just a guess but it might explain why there is no way to pump the water up, perhaps it was primarily to redirect floodwater?

[@davie941]

hi paul rebecca and matt, another very interesting video, thats a cool find well done matt, hope someone can help solve this , well done guys and thank you 😃

[@rossstenner4402]

Could the waterwheel have been an undershot type used as a power source which through gearing operated a pump. I have seen something of that sort on a river in Derbyshire

[@maynardmckillen9228]

Seems highly likely. The video by Pathfinder (kzbin.info/www/bejne/aIu0gayGhK1npdE) shows the outer face of the water wheel has paddles as wide as the wheel. These paddles have "sides" that effectively form buckets and thus show the probable direction of water flow.

[@Simon_Nonymous]

Started laughing at this one straight away - Matt is a star!!

[@geoffgoodall3839]

You are in the red bridge lane area, lime pits were a working quarry up until mid /late fifties.my father a general builder rented a piece of ground opposite as a dumping ground for building waste from Hackwood estates at the back of that lay the cannal.pump house drew water from from across the a30 in an area that was locally called the pipes that drew water from a spring system called black damn the pipes run approximately parallel with the slip road to the Mr at the the foot of crab tree.

[@philfyphil]

Did your father own Goodall’s Garage in Oakley?

[@fredericksaxton3991]

In 1970 I did walk a bit of this canal and got to where a tunnel started. I remember seeing a sunken barge in part of the water there. Is that wreck still there?

[@MyUnknowing]

i think the canal may have been filled in that area after the big chemical spill that happened at the black dam roundabout in the 60s

[@phu010]

Interestingly, on the old maps there is no sign of any connection between the pump and the canal. Of course, the water could have been piped, but they are so close that a leat would seem a cheaper option.

[@maynardmckillen9228]

And the video doesn't happen to show a place on the building where the pump discharged water into a leat, or into an aqueduct.

[@oneteaminbristolbcfc]

If it’s the car park I think it is, there’s a lot that happens there!!!

[@chrisplunkett2814]

The lakes the pumping engine is between are fed by the River Loddon and not the canal with the water flow from the pump and through the tunnel.Maybe you've already figured that out though.The lack of water for the canal is odd as all that land to the North of the canal is marked as being liable to flooding.

[@AdamsWorlds]

Could it be to redirect the water flow? Without seeing the rest cant be sure but it was not uncommon for mills to have a redirect to bypass them when not in use. Bypassing the mill would allow fish to migrate safely past and protect the rivers and fish stocks.

[@532bluepeter1]

The Kennet And Avon still has a working water pumping station at I believe Claverton that uses the flow of the river to lift its water to the canal above. The Wey And Arun canal has a unique (I believe ) arrangement of a water wheel which uses the flow of the Arun to lift its water into the canal. This is at Drungewick lock. So it is perfectly possible that the water wheel could power a pump to lift water into the canal. Canals are fed with water from the summit and it is this by which they succeed or fail in many cases. I am not au fait enough with the Basingstoke to know where the summit is but if this is it or nearly it then this would be a reasonable place to supply it. Like the Kennet and Avon and Thames and Severn though it was notoriously unreliable in summer. Today the Basingstoke canal is very short of water. I spoke to a gentleman at the Basingstoke canal trust on one occassion when planning a kayaking trip on the canal and he said that the canal is pretty much a dew pond. Anyone taking powered craft up the canal has to apply for permission and be followed by a warden who will pinch the gates shut to save water.

[@jamesblair18]

Oh my word super find and intact. Someone tell a museum! Crying out for restoration!

[@annarboriter]

When I look at so many of the structures visited by the channel, my first thought is not to restore, but to cut back the overgrowth with a chainsaw simply to prevent any further demolition by neglect

[@jannash2905]

Maybe this was something to do with the brickworks in this area?