Abbey Pumping Station

Abbey Pumping Station
Corporation Road
Abbey Lane
Leicester
Leicestershire
LE4 5PX
England

Website

Leicester Museums & Galleries website

www.abbeypumpingstation.org

E-mail

Enquiries

museums@leicester.gov.uk

Telephone

0116 299 5111

Fax

0116 299 5125

All information is drawn from or provided by the venues themselves and every effort is made to ensure it is correct. Please remember to double check opening hours with the venue concerned before making a special visit.
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The Abbey Pumping Station is Leicester's Museum of Science and Technology. The museum collects and displays the industrial, technological and scientific heritage of Leicester. The engine house has been preserved and during selected special events the engines can be seen in steam.

Venue Type:

Museum, Science centre, Industrial heritage site

 Opening hours

February - October:
Open daily: 11.00am - 4.30pm
Open November - January for special events and private hire.

Closed November - January apart from special events and private hire.

 Admission charges

Free admission except on special event days.

Additional info

For room or venue hire please contact the Museum Desk on 01162 995111

Collection details

Decorative and Applied Art, Industry, Land Transport, Science and Technology, Social History

Key artists and exhibits

  • The museum not only has a collection of working stationary steam engines but also vibrant displays using real artefacts from the past together with interactive hands-on exhibits. Permanent exhibitions include the science and history of public health in Leicester, light and optical science and a nostalgic look at the history of the city's tram system.
Exhibition details are listed below, you may need to scroll down to see them all.

Flushed with Pride

  • 1 September 2014 — 1 September 2016 *on now

This exhibition highlights the history and science of public health in Leicester, using historic exhibits.

The history of everyday terminology for our bodily waste is graffitied on a toilet door. There is a talking toilet (in a modern bathroom setting); Victorian toilets and Roman water pipes; and a working water pump powered by a paraffin engine. There is also a unique inter-active toilet with a see-through bowel and cistern, where the journey of an object can be followed from flush to drain.

Suitable for

  • Family friendly

Website

http://www.abbeypumpingstation.org/exhibits.asp

The Beam Engines

  • 1 September 2014 — 1 September 2016 *on now

The main building on the site houses the 4 massive Gimson beam engines, which have all now been restored to full working order. At various special events throughout the year one or more of the engines are steamed for the public to observe.

Originally built in Leicester in 1891 for the purpose of pumping sewage to a new treatment works at Beaumont Leys off Anstey Lane. The engines worked untill 1964 when electric pumps started to take over their duties and it finally closed soon after as a pumping station on completion of the new sewage works at Wanlip.

Suitable for

  • Family friendly

Website

http://www.abbeypumpingstation.org

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