200-year-old water engine near Marlborough to run for Drive It Day
It is a day of celebrating historic vehicles
A charity near Marlborough is demonstrating its still-functional water engine from Napoleonic times as part of National Drive It Day.
The day is a highlight for everyone who is into historic cars but also raises awareness for the UK's road heritage as well as funds for the NSPCC.
Drive It Day has so far raised £177,170 in support of vulnerable children and young people.
Dee Nix, chair of the Crofton branch of the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust which includes Crofton Beam Engines, told Greatest Hits Radio: “The first of our engines was installed in 1812 which is when Napoleon was retreating from Moscow. And both our engines are still capable and do their job as if they were built today and they are in their original location in their beautiful Georgian building.
“We've decided to have the engines working for an extra day this year to celebrate drive it day and to give people a real chance to have a look at them going. And the honest truth is, if you've got a classic car, you're probably interested in all sorts of other engineering.”
Drive It Day was set up by the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs in 2005.
It gives historic vehicle enthusiast as well as members of the public the opportunity to celebrate the ‘One Thousand Mile Trial’ – an 11-day test, which started on 23 April 1900 and saw the first motorcars drive around Britain to “prove the viability” of the new invention.
Since 2021, Drive it Day has also been fundraising for the NSPCC by selling rally plaques which people can stick on their cars to demonstrate support.
“The child line service is a big service and it’s absolutely crucial that our children, should they need it, have adults who will listen to them and give them safe support. We live in a complex, difficult world for young people, so we all volunteers at Crofton are very keen to support that work in the way that we can”, added Ms. Nix.
Visitors to Crofton Beam Engines will be able to visit the Grade I listed Engine House which is home to the Lancashire Boiler as well as several standing engines and beam engines.
Last year, the event over 300 cars visited the venue south of Swindon.