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Wilton Common

Downs, Moorland in Wiltshire

England

Wilton Common

Digger in the Bracken In a clearing in Castle Copse. Obviously abandoned here for some time, with broken windows and bracken growing up through the cab.
Digger in the Bracken Credit: Des Blenkinsopp

Wilton Common is a picturesque area located in the county of Wiltshire, England. Situated amidst the stunning landscapes of the Downs and Moorland, it offers visitors a serene and tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of urban life. Spanning over a vast expanse of land, the common is known for its diverse and rich flora and fauna.

The Downs of Wilton Common are characterized by rolling hills covered in lush green grass and dotted with vibrant wildflowers. This creates a breathtaking and idyllic backdrop for leisurely walks and picnics. Visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding countryside and the nearby River Wylye, which meanders through the area.

The Moorland section of Wilton Common is distinguished by its unique ecosystem. A mosaic of heather-covered heathlands, scattered woodlands, and peat bogs, it provides a haven for a variety of wildlife. Rare bird species such as curlews and red kites can be spotted soaring overhead, while the moorland's wet areas are home to reptiles like adders and grass snakes.

Wilton Common offers an array of recreational activities for nature enthusiasts. Walking trails and bridleways crisscross the area, allowing visitors to explore its natural beauty on foot, bike, or horseback. The common is also a popular spot for birdwatching, photography, and nature study.

The management of Wilton Common is overseen by local authorities and conservation groups to ensure the preservation of its natural habitats. Visitors are encouraged to respect the environment and follow designated paths to minimize their impact on the delicate ecosystem.

Overall, Wilton Common in Wiltshire is a haven for nature lovers, offering a harmonious blend of Downs and Moorland landscapes, abundant wildlife, and recreational opportunities in an unspoiled setting.

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Wilton Common Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 51.359368/-1.603085 or Grid Reference SU2762. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Digger in the Bracken In a clearing in Castle Copse. Obviously abandoned here for some time, with broken windows and bracken growing up through the cab.
Digger in the Bracken
In a clearing in Castle Copse. Obviously abandoned here for some time, with broken windows and bracken growing up through the cab.
Apples in the Plantation One of several new plantations I passed on my walk today where apple trees have been included in the mix along with oaks and wild cherries and other more usual woodland trees.
Apples in the Plantation
One of several new plantations I passed on my walk today where apple trees have been included in the mix along with oaks and wild cherries and other more usual woodland trees.
Road to Folly Farm Also a public bridleway.
Road to Folly Farm
Also a public bridleway.
Crofton Pumping Station - preserved boiler front Crofton used to have two Lancashire boilers when I first visited about 1980. It now only has one workable boiler has this example by the Great Western Railway's Swindon works now consists only of this front and a little of the shell behind the wall. The space behind is now used for other, revenue generating, purposes. I might have a monochrome of the boiler when it was still workable.
Crofton Pumping Station - preserved boiler front
Crofton used to have two Lancashire boilers when I first visited about 1980. It now only has one workable boiler has this example by the Great Western Railway's Swindon works now consists only of this front and a little of the shell behind the wall. The space behind is now used for other, revenue generating, purposes. I might have a monochrome of the boiler when it was still workable.
Crofton Pumping Station First commenced in 1809 to supply water to the Summit level of the Kennet & Avon Canal, this building now houses engines by Boulton & Watt of 1812 and Harvey & Co of Hayle of 1846. These are both workable and the older is the world's oldest in situ engine capable of doing its original job. The open doors lead into the boiler house. The beam engines are in the taller section.
Crofton Pumping Station
First commenced in 1809 to supply water to the Summit level of the Kennet & Avon Canal, this building now houses engines by Boulton & Watt of 1812 and Harvey & Co of Hayle of 1846. These are both workable and the older is the world's oldest in situ engine capable of doing its original job. The open doors lead into the boiler house. The beam engines are in the taller section.
Crofton Pumping Station First commenced in 1809 to supply water to the Summit level of the Kennet & Avon Canal, this building now houses engines by Boulton & Watt of 1812 and Harvey & Co of Hayle of 1846. These are both workable and the older is the world's oldest in situ engine capable of doing its original job. This shows the pumping station on the left at the summit level of the canal and the Kennet and Avon Canal on the right in the background.
Crofton Pumping Station
First commenced in 1809 to supply water to the Summit level of the Kennet & Avon Canal, this building now houses engines by Boulton & Watt of 1812 and Harvey & Co of Hayle of 1846. These are both workable and the older is the world's oldest in situ engine capable of doing its original job. This shows the pumping station on the left at the summit level of the canal and the Kennet and Avon Canal on the right in the background.
Kennet and Avon Canal at Crofton From the bridge by Crofton level crossing.
Kennet and Avon Canal at Crofton
From the bridge by Crofton level crossing.
Kennet and Avon Canal with Crofton Crossing Cottage The cottage is by the level crossing on the former Great Western Railway.
Kennet and Avon Canal with Crofton Crossing Cottage
The cottage is by the level crossing on the former Great Western Railway.
Sluices between Wilton Water and the Kennet and Avon Canal Wilton Water is a water supply for this level of the canal at Crofton. Water for the summit is supplied by a pumping station. The original Crofton Pumping Station from 1809 was steam powered and is now preserved. The current pumping station is electric but on occasions the steam pumps have stood in for it. The steam pumps are also demonstrated on several steam days each year.
Sluices between Wilton Water and the Kennet and Avon Canal
Wilton Water is a water supply for this level of the canal at Crofton. Water for the summit is supplied by a pumping station. The original Crofton Pumping Station from 1809 was steam powered and is now preserved. The current pumping station is electric but on occasions the steam pumps have stood in for it. The steam pumps are also demonstrated on several steam days each year.
Kennet and Avon Canal at Crofton The green sign on the right indicates the path to Wilton Windmill. The windmill was open on this occasion and we followed the path past Wilton Water and uphill to the windmill.
Kennet and Avon Canal at Crofton
The green sign on the right indicates the path to Wilton Windmill. The windmill was open on this occasion and we followed the path past Wilton Water and uphill to the windmill.
Crofton Pumping Station First commenced in 1809 to supply water to the Summit level of the Kennet & Avon Canal, this building now houses engines by Boulton & Watt of 1812 and Harvey & Co of Hayle of 1846. These are both workable and the older is the world's oldest in situ engine capable of doing its original job. This shows the pump end of the beam engine house with boiler house behind. The bridge in the centre crosses the discharge channel that takes the water from the pumps to the canal's summit level. The summit crosses a watershed and there is no natural supply to make up for lockage losses. The alternatives were a tunnel below the summit or a pumping station to return water from a lower level. The canal company opted for pumping and that is still carried out today with electric pumps.
Crofton Pumping Station
First commenced in 1809 to supply water to the Summit level of the Kennet & Avon Canal, this building now houses engines by Boulton & Watt of 1812 and Harvey & Co of Hayle of 1846. These are both workable and the older is the world's oldest in situ engine capable of doing its original job. This shows the pump end of the beam engine house with boiler house behind. The bridge in the centre crosses the discharge channel that takes the water from the pumps to the canal's summit level. The summit crosses a watershed and there is no natural supply to make up for lockage losses. The alternatives were a tunnel below the summit or a pumping station to return water from a lower level. The canal company opted for pumping and that is still carried out today with electric pumps.
Crofton Pumping Station - discharge channel supplying the summit First commenced in 1809 to supply water to the Summit level of the Kennet & Avon Canal, the pumping station now houses engines by Boulton & Watt of 1812 and Harvey & Co of Hayle of 1846. These are both workable and the older is the world's oldest in situ engine capable of doing its original job. This shows the discharge channel taking water from the two pumping engines to the summit level of the canal. The canal's summit crosses a watershed where there is no natural supply to replace lockage losses. The canal company had a choice of building a tunnel under the summit or using back pumping from a lower level. They opted for pumping.
Crofton Pumping Station - discharge channel supplying the summit
First commenced in 1809 to supply water to the Summit level of the Kennet & Avon Canal, the pumping station now houses engines by Boulton & Watt of 1812 and Harvey & Co of Hayle of 1846. These are both workable and the older is the world's oldest in situ engine capable of doing its original job. This shows the discharge channel taking water from the two pumping engines to the summit level of the canal. The canal's summit crosses a watershed where there is no natural supply to replace lockage losses. The canal company had a choice of building a tunnel under the summit or using back pumping from a lower level. They opted for pumping.
Crofton Pumping Station - spare Lancashire boiler This was acquired from a W D & H O Wills factory in Swindon and has been stored in the open air for over 25 years. It was obtained as a spare to the site's 1899 boiler that was obtained second-hand in the 1980s from a W D & H O Wills factory in Bristol. That latter boiler is the site's only operational boiler and in the 2021-22 winter period is to receive some major preventative maintenance that will hopefully see it through the next 10 years. This spare boiler will probably never get used, but who knows. The heritage steam sector is facing problems with the supply of coal and concerns about using fossil fuels. However, Crofton intends to remain in steam for as long as possible and is considering alternatives such as biocoal. Apart from the business of raising steam, one also has to consider the longevity of machinery that is over 150-200 years old. The engines have been examined by non-destructive testing and their performance and loading is being examined with appropriate instrumentation (some of it from the same stable as the telemetry used in F1 racing).
Crofton Pumping Station - spare Lancashire boiler
This was acquired from a W D & H O Wills factory in Swindon and has been stored in the open air for over 25 years. It was obtained as a spare to the site's 1899 boiler that was obtained second-hand in the 1980s from a W D & H O Wills factory in Bristol. That latter boiler is the site's only operational boiler and in the 2021-22 winter period is to receive some major preventative maintenance that will hopefully see it through the next 10 years. This spare boiler will probably never get used, but who knows. The heritage steam sector is facing problems with the supply of coal and concerns about using fossil fuels. However, Crofton intends to remain in steam for as long as possible and is considering alternatives such as biocoal. Apart from the business of raising steam, one also has to consider the longevity of machinery that is over 150-200 years old. The engines have been examined by non-destructive testing and their performance and loading is being examined with appropriate instrumentation (some of it from the same stable as the telemetry used in F1 racing).
Crofton Pumping Station - beam engine discharge First commenced in 1809 to supply water to the Summit level of the Kennet & Avon Canal, this building now houses engines by Boulton & Watt of 1812 and Harvey & Co of Hayle of 1846. These are both workable and the older is the world's oldest in situ engine capable of doing its original job. This shows the discharge from the two beam engines into the leat leading to the Canal's summit. The engine discharging on the right is the 1846 engine.
Crofton Pumping Station - beam engine discharge
First commenced in 1809 to supply water to the Summit level of the Kennet & Avon Canal, this building now houses engines by Boulton & Watt of 1812 and Harvey & Co of Hayle of 1846. These are both workable and the older is the world's oldest in situ engine capable of doing its original job. This shows the discharge from the two beam engines into the leat leading to the Canal's summit. The engine discharging on the right is the 1846 engine.
Crofton Pumping Station - old valves A pair of boiler crown valves flank a double beat pump foot-valve with wooden seating blocks on both beats.
Crofton Pumping Station - old valves
A pair of boiler crown valves flank a double beat pump foot-valve with wooden seating blocks on both beats.
Crofton Pumping Station - pump rods of the 1846 engine First commenced in 1809 to supply water to the Summit level of the Kennet & Avon Canal, this building now houses engines by Boulton & Watt of 1812 and Harvey & Co of Hayle of 1846. These are both workable and the older is the world's oldest in situ engine capable of doing its original job. This shows the ground floor of the engine house at pump discharge level. These are the pump rods of the 1846 engine with the main pump rod on the left and the air pump rod on the right. The pumped water flows through the metal casing in the middle and through the end wall into the discharge leat.
Crofton Pumping Station - pump rods of the 1846 engine
First commenced in 1809 to supply water to the Summit level of the Kennet & Avon Canal, this building now houses engines by Boulton & Watt of 1812 and Harvey & Co of Hayle of 1846. These are both workable and the older is the world's oldest in situ engine capable of doing its original job. This shows the ground floor of the engine house at pump discharge level. These are the pump rods of the 1846 engine with the main pump rod on the left and the air pump rod on the right. The pumped water flows through the metal casing in the middle and through the end wall into the discharge leat.
Crofton Pumping Station - 1812 engine pump discharge First commenced in 1809 to supply water to the Summit level of the Kennet & Avon Canal, this building now houses engines by Boulton & Watt of 1812 and Harvey & Co of Hayle of 1846. These are both workable and the older is the world's oldest in situ engine capable of doing its original job. This shows the 1812 engine's pump rod that operates a bucket pump down the well. At the top it is connected to the beam two floor further up and at the bottom it enters the covered pump discharge launder heading through the far wall. Because it is a bucket pump the rod is within the rising main down the well.
Crofton Pumping Station - 1812 engine pump discharge
First commenced in 1809 to supply water to the Summit level of the Kennet & Avon Canal, this building now houses engines by Boulton & Watt of 1812 and Harvey & Co of Hayle of 1846. These are both workable and the older is the world's oldest in situ engine capable of doing its original job. This shows the 1812 engine's pump rod that operates a bucket pump down the well. At the top it is connected to the beam two floor further up and at the bottom it enters the covered pump discharge launder heading through the far wall. Because it is a bucket pump the rod is within the rising main down the well.
Crofton Pumping Station - off-site engines in the boiler house First commenced in 1809 to supply water to the Summit level of the Kennet & Avon Canal, this pumping station now houses engines by Boulton & Watt of 1812 and Harvey & Co of Hayle of 1846. These are both workable and the older is the world's oldest in situ engine capable of doing its original job. In the boiler house is this small collection of steamable engines that are quite unrelated to the pumping station but of interest in their own right. Some are quite old and rare while others help to illustrate the spectrum of stationary engine designs. Not everybody believes they have any place at Crofton but I am quite comfortable with their presence as it is made clear they are interlopers.
Crofton Pumping Station - off-site engines in the boiler house
First commenced in 1809 to supply water to the Summit level of the Kennet & Avon Canal, this pumping station now houses engines by Boulton & Watt of 1812 and Harvey & Co of Hayle of 1846. These are both workable and the older is the world's oldest in situ engine capable of doing its original job. In the boiler house is this small collection of steamable engines that are quite unrelated to the pumping station but of interest in their own right. Some are quite old and rare while others help to illustrate the spectrum of stationary engine designs. Not everybody believes they have any place at Crofton but I am quite comfortable with their presence as it is made clear they are interlopers.
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Wilton Common is located at Grid Ref: SU2762 (Lat: 51.359368, Lng: -1.603085)

Unitary Authority: Wiltshire

Police Authority: Wiltshire

What 3 Words

///clasps.oblige.constrain. Near Great Bedwyn, Wiltshire

Nearby Locations

Wilton Common Wilton Brail

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Nearby Amenities

Located within 500m of 51.359368,-1.603085
Bench
Backrest: yes
Material: wood
Source: survey
Lat/Long: 51.356968/-1.5976426
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
The data included in this document is from www.openstreetmap.org. The data is made available under ODbL.
Studley Moor Yorkshire
Totley Moss Derbyshire

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