Volunteers gave Dartmouth’s Newcomen Engine a thorough service last week. Under the guidance of engineer Geoff Wallis, a past president of the Newcomen Society, the team of volunteers from ‘Friends of the Newcomen Engine’ spent a busy day doing essential maintenance on the engine, which is housed in a building attached to the Dartmouth Visitor Centre.

The team was acting on behalf of Dartmouth Town Council and the maintenance consisted of cleaning, lubrication, and monitoring for wear of the chains and bearings.

Thomas Newcomen was born, lived and worked in Dartmouth in the 17th century at a time when flooding in mines was a problem. He invented the first steam-powered beam engine pump which was so sound in principle that it laid a solid foundation on which later engines could be built, as well as performing unchanged in basic concept for over 150 years.

The Dartmouth Engine is one of several preserved examples. It was brought to Dartmouth in 1963 by the Newcomen Society to commemorate the 300th anniversary of Newcomen’s birth. It’s no longer driven by steam, but may be seen in motion, operated by hydraulics, during the normal opening hours of Dartmouth Visitor Centre.