History

HISTORY OF Strumpshaw

Strumpshaw steam museum is part of the Strumpshaw Estate, 1000 acres of beautiful Norfolk countryside. The estate is a working farm, and is also home to the Strumpshaw Livery Stable. Mr. Key always states that he owes much to his sister Kiki, who is an invaluable support in the running of Strumpshaw; he also has the help and support of his partner Vanessa. His two children William and Becky both work on the estate maintaining the running of the farm and livery stable respectively.

Strumpshaw’s last resident ‘squire’ was William Holmes. His father had bought the estate in 1881 after returning to the family’s resident Norfolk from Scotland. William James Owen Holmes was a Fellow of the Royal Society who had a passion for astronomy. He wished his son to learn how to manage his inheritance of the Strumpshaw estate, and so he sent him to attend the Royal Agricultural College at Cirencester.

Strumpshaw estate lay between two branches of the great Eastern Railway; the closest of these branches had been built by Robert Stephenson. It was therefore quite natural that whilst he was attending the College young William would often visit and take an interest in the railway workshops at nearby Swindon.

William married Mabel, the daughter of Edward and Anne Barnes, and in 1908, on the death of his father, he took over the Strumpshaw Estate. During his time as the owner of the Hall his passion for engineering grew and he built a generator, producing the first electricity ever known in Strumpshaw. He also had a steam yacht moored by the fen; the yacht was named the S.S.Flower, an inherited family name. William had diabetes and took solace in alcohol; sadly for all his promise he died at an early age.

Through a marriage William Holmes’ lineage and his passion for engineering has survived.

Wesley Key married Mary nee Holmes. Wesley tended his museum daily and opened up the museum, welcoming visitors from May to September every year. Wesley bought his first steam engine when he was just sixteen, and his passion for these giants of the Victorian age never ceased.

Wesley was the founder of the annual Steam Rally which is held every Spring Bank Holiday at Strumpshaw. The park has been the setting for rallies since 1968.

A century after William James Owen Holmes came to Strumpshaw his great grandson; James W. H. Key is now resident at the Hall.

HISTORY OF TRACTION ENGINES

A Traction engine may be defined as a steam driven road locomotive for hauling trailers and for use as a power source. Steam rollers and steam trucks are now also included in the definition although steam cars are not.

Thomas Savery first patented a crude form of steam engine in 1698; his inspiration came from Denis Papin’s previous invention of a pressure cooker in 1679. Thomas Savery was a military engineer who was looking for a way to pump water from coal mines, his invention was a closed vessel, filled with water into which pressurised steam was introduced; the steam forced water in the mine upwards and out of the shaft. A cold water sprinkler was then used to condense the steam, which in turn created a vacuum that sucked more water out of the mine through a bottom valve.

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1/The Portable. This was the first type of engine to be used on and around farms in Britain. They were not self propelled and needed to be pulled by horses. They were used to drive threshing equipment and to operate saw mills. They were still in use well into the twentieth century.

2/The Agricultural General Purpose Engine. These engines were the most common types to be seen around the countryside. they were basically used as a mobile power plant for threshing, tree pulling and general farm duties. Though not generally owned by the farmers themselves, contractors operated them touring from farm to farm.

3/Road Locomotives. These were designed for heavy haulage on the public highways. They were usually larger than the normal traction engine and fitted with three speed gearing. They were also sprung on both front and rear axles. An extra water tank was fitted under the boiler so that greater distances could be travelled between water stops. These were very powerful traction engines capable of pulling loads of up to 120 tons. Showmen’s engines though highly decorated and adorned with brass, fall into the category of road locomotive. Apart from hauling fair rides etc. from one venue to another, they were also used for generating the power for the rides and the lighting.

4/Steam Tractors. These engines were built as small road locomotives and were operated by one man, provided that the engine was less than 5 tons in weight. They were used for general road haulage and in particular by the timber trade. The most popular steam tractor of its time was the Garrett 4CD.

5/Road Rollers. Perhaps the best known of all steam traction engines. They were still working into the 1960’s and part of the M1 motorway was made with the use of steamrollers. The early rollers tended to be very heavy; one even weighing 30 tons was built. But it was soon discovered that weight alone did not make the best roller. 12 or 15 tons was the most favoured. With the introduction of tarmac, rollers became even lighter and some of the smaller ones weighed as little as 3 tons.

6/Ploughing Engines. The largest of all, and were used, as the name suggests, for ploughing. A cable spanning the field would be attached to each engine on a winding drum with a plough joined in the middle which would be pulled up and down the field. One engine was built to pull on its right hand side, and the other on its left, so they were referred to as right or left hand engines, though the positions were reversed when working. These engines weighed around 22 tons each and ploughed up to 30 acres a day.

In addition to these main groups developed in the 20th Century was the steam wagon or lorry. The first of these were ‘overtypes’, having the engine mounted on top of the boiler in the same way as a traction engine. These engines were chain driven, and were capable of speeds of up to 30 mph. The designs included four and six wheelers, artics and tippers. By far the most popular builder of ‘overtypes’, were Foden of Cheshire. The ‘undertype’ wagon that followed was made with a vertical boiler with the engine mounted under the chassis, not unlike a modern lorry.Later models were fitted with pneumatic tyres and could reach speeds of up to 60 mph.

links for:- Traction Engines Traction Engines Groups Steam Wagon

HISTORY OF TRACTION ENGINES

links for:- Traction Engines Traction Engines Groups
Steam Wagon