Sturminster Newton town pump repairs will go ahead
Dorset Council have given plans the go ahead
Last updated 24th Aug 2021
Repairs have been agreed to the historic Sturminster Newton pump and trough at the Market Cross after it was badly damaged in a traffic accident two years ago.
Dorset Council has agreed listed building consent for the town council to make the repairs to the structure which used to stand outside the town museum.
The cast iron pump and trough are believed to have been made around 1908 to commemorate two members of the Comyns family – it was installed to replace another pump which was hand operated and used to draw up water for horses.
The damage to the structure happened early in the morning in August 2019 when a man driving to work lost control hitting the trough and a car parked beside it.
One of the town council’s grounds staff collected all the damaged pieces and took them to the town council’s workshop with the intention of getting them repaired by local blacksmith Ian Ring.
The driver’s insurance company is expected to pay the bills.
The impact of the crash smashed the cast iron and brick support structure leaving breaks in the cast ironwork with many of the bricks also broken apart.
The trough itself, almost four feet long, is now in several sections and may be beyond repair with plans being made to find a similar one to replace it, or have a new one made.