Transfer House.
Work started on the new scheme in June 1933. The siting of a 3ft 6in diameter
borehole, connecting one of the pumps to the adits, determined the position
of the engine-driven pumps, which in turn established the siting of the new
diesel engine house.
Mr Hines, Hawksley’s Assistant, "got out
the design for the new building and adapted it to the design of the existing
engine house”. The construction of the well and the associated
water mains and connections was undertaken by the Waterworks Department,
and Messrs A.E Jukes and Son won the contract for the construction of the
building.
The three rotary pumps were supplied by Messrs Gwynnes, and Ruston
and Hornsby were the sub-contractors for the new engines. British Pitometer
provided a Venturi type water meter.
Of the three engines, No. 1 (3 cylinder engine) pumped from
the well to the softening plant, No. 2 (4 cylinder engine under restoration)
from the softening plant to Twyford Reservoir, and the No. 3 (in the transfer
hut) from Twyford Reservoir to Yew Hill Reservoir. It will be noted that the
No. 1 engine had its location over the borehole,and the No. 2 engine had to
be connected to the softening plant, but the No. 3 engine was a link between
the two reservoirs.
For an unknown reason, the letting of the contracts was insufficiently
co-ordinated, and an engine and pump was delivered before the engine house
was ready, rather than delay the installation of No. 3 pump, it was decided
to place it in a temporary wooden ‘hut’ with a slate roof, to
be constructed by Messrs Braziers. Because of this, the No. 3 engine was
in use from 1934 and was never transferred to the diesel engine
house, and remained in its temporary ‘hut’
As mentioned above, the No's 1 and 2 diesel engines were erected in the new
diesel engine house, which was finally opened on 28 May 1935.
