End of Phase 1

The Victorian Pumping Station at Burton-on-Trent exemplified how Victorians approached problems—they built systems at the scale problems demanded. Four enormous steam-powered pumps treating brewery sewage, with all supporting machinery. Massive, overengineered, built to last. Infrastructure designed for grandchildren to inherit. It operated until the 1960s. The opposite of our current approach: finding the cheapest solution that barely works. Phase one complete—Ironbridge to Peak District, following how steam power transformed everything.

Victorian Scale

September 6, 2025

This morning I got up and ate breakfast at the B&B. It was excellent, including a freshly baked loaf of sourdough bread.

I spent about an hour walking down the street in Kirk Ireton. Took a few pictures in the churchyard. A nice quiet little town.

We drove from there to a Saturday market in Wirksworth. Mostly crafty sorts of things, not much fresh produce. I remain committed to not buying anything mostly because I don't have the space to get it back. I did mention that I was from Oregon to a few people. Most of them, if they had any connection there, were happy to provide the story in detail. As a rule, the Brits have no fear of talking. I like that.

Victorian Pumping Station

Next we stopped at a "Victorian Pumping Station" at Burton-on-Trent. Burton-on-Trent is known for its beer making. The pumping station is actually a sewage treatment plant (which was obvious the minute you stepped out of the car) that was needed to clean up the mess the breweries were creating in the river. We got a fascinating tour by the chair of the preservation group. It was AMAZING! It's basically four giant steam-powered pumps along with a blizzard of other systems to support them. Lots of detail, lots of authentic machinery. Easily one of the best tours of the trip.

After lunch at the Spread Eagle pub we visited Ian's son Tim and his family. Good conversation.

From there we just wanted to head home. We drove a long way down the Fosse Way and stopped at an Indian restaurant disguised as a pub. The food was good, if maybe a little pricey.

After that through the Cotswolds and home to Thornbury.

The pumping station at Burton-on-Trent was a perfect example of Victorian engineering solving a real problem. The beer industry was fouling the river, so they built this massive steam-powered system to treat the sewage. Four enormous engines working together, with all the supporting machinery needed to keep them running.

What struck me was how the Victorians approached problems. They didn't just tinker around the edges—they built systems at the scale the problem demanded. Massive, overengineered, built to last. The opposite of our current approach of finding the cheapest solution that barely works.

Standing in that engine room, listening to the tour guide explain how it all worked together, you realize this was infrastructure built by people who expected their grandchildren to still be using it. They weren't wrong—it operated until the 1960s.

That completes phase one of this journey. From Ironbridge to the Peak District, following the story of how steam power transformed everything. Next week, different regions, different innovations.

Images can be found here: https://beloretrato0.picflow.com/d43bka91mw/wq9vbij7bz