Water Provision in Old Warden

Old Warden Village Pump about 1900 [Z1306]

Old Warden has three reminders of earlier days, when all water had to be acquired from somewhere outside one's house. These two pumps and a well are now for decorative purposes only. All three structures were listed by the former Department of Environment as Grade II, of special interest.

 
Pump at Church End March 2008

One pump is opposite 5 Church End and backs onto the cricket ground. It is late 19th century "in rustic style" as the Department of Environment put it. The pump has a wooden shelter around it with a thatched roof. The front has three archways.

 
Pump at Parsonage Piece March 2008

The second pump backs onto Parsonage Piece at the northern end of the High Street. It is quite different in design, though, again, late 19th century. The Department of Environment described it as being in "picturesque style". It is surrounded by a wooden box-like structure with a pyramidal roof of clay tiles, the wood being painted the same cream colour as much of the external woodwork in the village.

 
Jacobs Well about 1900 [Z50/129/11]

The well is known as Jacob's well and served the south end of the village, being on the east side of the High Street between numbers 46 and 47. Again it is late 19th century, the body of the well being of circular stone with a timber structure for drawing the water. The well is now [2008] partially overgrown by ivy.

Jacobs Well March 2008