Crofton Beam Engines

About

Crofton Beam Engines, set in unspoiled Wiltshire countryside close to the old market town of Marlborough, is an ideal spot for exploring the Kennet and Avon Canal.  Toilets and a picnic area on site. The Engineman's Rest Café is closed. No refreshments are available to purchase on site. On non-steaming days entrance to the site is free, with an admission charge for the Georgian Grade 1 Listed engine house to view the static engines. On steaming days there is an entrance charge to the site, which includes admission to the engine house.  Please see https://www.croftonbeamengines.org/ for scheduled steaming days.
 
Public access to the site is by the main gate only. No access from the lower canal entrance at lock 60.
 
Built over 200 years ago to supply water to the highest point of the canal, it is one of the most important surviving remains of the Industrial Revolution in England. Step back into our industrial and social history and see Crofton’s two steam powered beam pumping engines, the Boulton & Watt dating from 1812 and the Harvey of Hayle built in 1846. The Boulton and Watt is the oldest beam engine in the world still in its original building and capable of doing its original job. Pumping water into the canal with steam being supplied by a coal-fired, Lancashire boiler, just like it was over 100 years ago.