Westonzoyland Pumping Station Museum

Westonzoyland Pumping Station is a brick-built structure housing a collection of steam engines and pumps, including the original 1861 Easton and Amos drainage machine. The facility was powered by steam to pump water from the low-lying wetlands of the Somerset Levels.

The station was built in 1830 as the first mechanical pumping facility on the Somerset Levels to combat the region's persistent flooding. Steam technology made it possible to remove water on a large scale and make farmland usable.

The museum displays furnished rooms from the keeper's cottage, showing how station workers lived during the 1930s. These spaces reveal the simple, functional daily life of those who operated the facility.

The museum can be difficult to reach, so it helps to plan your journey in advance to find the best route. Arriving early in the day gives you more time to explore the machinery and see how the station operates.

The 1861 Easton and Amos steam engine remains in its original location and still works, making it a rare functioning antique. Few visitors realize this machine can actually pump water today, despite being nearly two centuries old.

Location: Westonzoyland

Inception: 1861

Website: https://wzlet.org

GPS coordinates: 51.09090,-2.94433

Latest update: December 12, 2025 14:25