I spent Christmas in Scotland, staying at the Kingshouse. The food and and accommodation were as good as last year, sadly the weather was less kind. The first couple of days were nothing but hard rain and strong winds. Things picked up a little on Christmas day. Boxing day saw blue skies and sunshine, before Storm Gerrit arrived the following day, to give an interesting drive home.
A few suitably festive iPhone shots, taken in London whilst walking back from the theatre.
Whilst those that knew what they were doing set up studio flashes, gels and smoke machines, there was plenty of time to explore the details of the pumping station. And there were plenty of details to admire. As well as the original steam powered rotative beam engine, there was the later diesel engine and a workshop full of bits and bobs.
Stretham Old Engine is the last complete survivor of more than a hundred similar engines that once worked the drainage network all over Cambridgeshire. It was used to pump water from flood-affected areas of The Fens back into the River Great Ouse. I visited there 2 weeks ago, with other CCC members. The intention was to use the pumping station as a backdrop for some portraits. David and Francoise kindly volunteered as models and brought some amazing Steam Punk and 1930s-style costumes.
