Staffordshire station celebrates 100th birthday

The Mill Meece Pumping Station in Cotes Heath, near Eccleshall, was built in 1912 and first started pumping water in 1914.

A total of eight men would work at the station seven days a week, 365 days a year, although production ceased at the outbreak of the First World War.

The pumping station was then brought back into use in 1919.

It last pumped water into the supply on December 22, 1979 and is now leased to the Mill Meece Pumping Station Preservation Trust, which officially took over the station under the ownership of the Severn Trent Water Authority on May 31, 1981.

It marked the centenary with the unveiling of a plaque by the Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent, Majid Khan, at a special ceremony attended by civic dignitaries.

Trust chairman Howard Moore said: "The plaque was donated by a lady called Mabel Johnson who took an interest in the station.

"Sadly she passed away two months ago and didn't get to see the plaque being unveiled but we are so grateful to her.

"It is fantastic to be able to mark this milestone and I am pleased to be a part of it. I think the station is an important part of history for people to take an interest in because in its heyday it pumped water up to Newcastle.

"It forms a complete example of an Edwardian water supply pumping station."

Due to a brickwork failure, the station is not currently in steam, but Mr Moore is hopeful the problem will be fixed over the next few months.

He added: "It is disappointing that we have got this fault but it will be fixed by Severn Trent and then it will be business as usual.

"In the meantime people can still visit us and take in the sights and sounds.

"It is a lovely place to visit and I would encourage people to come along and learn about this rich history."