Crofton Beam Engines 5th and 6th of April
Great Easter Steam Up April the 5th and 6th
This fantastic experience at Crofton Beam Engines starts on Sunday the 5th of April and continues on Monday the 6th, opening times 10:00 – 16:30, entry to the grounds is free and entry to the Boiler and Engine House is £14.50 per adult, which gets you an Annual Pass to our standard steaming weekends. Children under 16 and careers go free. Car parking is free on Steaming weekends.
Come and see our magnificent beam engines at work, pumping coax water to the highest point of the Kennet and Avon Canal, keeping the canal full of water. The pumping station at Crofton has been running for well over 200 years and includes the oldest Beam Engine in the World, still in its original location, still doing the job for which it was installed. Watch these surprisingly quiet marvels of engineering. Once our boiler crew have raised steam to drive the engines, see our highly skilled engine drivers coax the engines into life. See the heart of the fires in our boiler and learn about coal and alternative fuels. Remember that our number one engine, installed in 1812 has been working since Napoleon retreated from Moscow!
Fun for all the family.
Enjoy these fun activities:
We will have our famous Duck Races in our stream (leat) on both days. Watch your ducks pop out of the pump and race away towards the canal. There will be a prize for first and last duck to reach our bridge at every race! £1 entry per duck.
There will be an Easter Egg trail in our grounds, search high and low for an egg, prizes for all who complete the trail.
Make your own Easter decorations. There will be a craft area for children of all ages to make an Easter Bonnet, decorate an Easter Egg or just have fun creating your own Easter themed artwork. A donation of £1 recommended, all proceeds go to our Window fund.
Things to do at Crofton
Visit our Smithy Tea Room, enjoy a fine selection of teas, coffee, soft drinks, cakes, crips, we will have a small selection of “Free From” cakes as well.
We have beautiful grounds and you are more than welcome to bring a picnic and enjoy the stunning scenery, look across the valley to Wilton Water, catch a glimpse of the canal and maybe a speeding intercity train.
You can visit us by road or via the canal. We have a car park or why not walk or cycle along the canal tow path and join us via our canal tunnel.
Steam Experience
A very special and unique experience for anyone who loves all things steam powered, spend a day at Crofton working alongside our volunteers.
Accompanied by an experienced and knowledgeable volunteer, you can help light and stoke the boiler, work with the Duty Engineer, enter areas not normally seen by the public, help prepare the engines for steaming, and finally take control of the oldest, working beam engine in the world. There are two steam experience slots available at Easter so if you are interested please book your day soon.
See our web site for more information. Treat yourself or buy a very special present for someone you love.
For more information on when we are open, admission prices and ticketing if you would like to buy a ticket in advance, parking etc please see our web site:
https://www.croftonbeamengines.org/
Crofton Beam Engines, Crofton, Marlborough, Wiltshire SN8 3DW
Email: Crofton@katrust.co.uk
Crofton Beam Engines, a branch of The Kennet and Avon Canal Trust Registered Charity No. 209206