A Hucknall History
Public Utility & Services
Tapping Water Mains
Water is the essence of life. Ensuring all Hucknall Huthwaite households gained a tapped supply of drinkable purity must recognise one of the most significant advancements in finally allowing broader expansion to rapidly home a healthier Huthwaite township.
Huthwaite has never been short of rainfall capable of supporting a rural hamlet. In fact, natural drainage off steep meadows can not only identify source of the river Meden below Herrods Hill. Drainage off Strawberry Bank formed a Blackwell Brook that anciently defined part the mid west Nottinghamshire border. Unlike primary settlements generally favouring wider fertile river banks, settlers later headed upstream searching for remoter inland farmlands. Relative growth of larger towns and cities may be proportional the volume of available running water, not just quenching thirst, but certainly more capable of naturally sustaining greater populations.
National staple diet of bread and weak ale hadn't just been based on a thirsty love of alcohol. Drinking from stagnant ponds or any streams potentially polluted by animal and or human waste had long recognised the risk of illness. The fermentation process was safest known way ensuring purification. Home brewing farmers were of course willing to sell their ale and beers opening up pubs.
The Local Board of Sutton-in-Ashfield firstly initiated their own 1881 water scheme a year after dealing with town sewage. They did prove critically influential proposing Hucknall Huthwaite ought to similarly benefit from a clear fresh ample supply. A Mr Hodgkinson from the Sutton Board actually forwarded the idea, emphasising the Hucknall Huthwaite Board had been considering the situation almost ten years before compelled into obtaining supplies. His research into alternative suppliers on their behalf gave estimated pricing. He strongly suggested their best deal would share costs between Sutton £500, and Hucknall Huthwaite about £1,500.
A nicely detailed 1884 map of Hucknall Huthwaite looks specifically commissioned for the planned installation of mains water. That contour map measures precise highest point in the county, ideally suiting an underground reservoir. It interestingly exposes stunted growth around several communal wells forming cramped Yards along Main Street. Farm holders could sink private well pumps, although numerous other sites reflects use of past name for any natural springs or streams like the Mapplewell. Turning heavy clay based slopes along west side a future named Main Street into more profitable rented worker cottages, did benefit from natural water drainage flooding into The Falls area covering entire east side. Alternatively, Pit Row cottages sited near the old coal mine would be the reported area where residents were long reliant upon Blackwell Brook, then left filtering through past coal works.
Credit can be given the Huthwaite committee for significantly reducing a tendered sliding tariff from an initial 7s. down to a flat rate of 7d. per 1,000 gallons, with a minimum quarterly payment of £15 to secure water actually sourced from Rushley Pumping Station. The two Local Boards were then able to reach mutually agreeable terms early January 1886, although this deal didn't forge a good local partnership for the forthcoming years.
Sutton was responsible for laying a mains pipe up to the Huthwaite border, where a water meter calculated usage. And this small pump house sited at junction of Alfreton Road and Huthwaite Road near Sutton cemetery, increased pressure for that uphill route. A tramroad compares later progression, until diverting bus routes around the present one way system cornered by a petrol station.
Agreeing to ensure a three day supply of water created necessity to sink a suitably sized reservoir ideally on highest point possible within Huthwaite. That was easily found above Strawberry Bank prior any Harper Lane housing. Waterworks were formally opened October 6th 1886, by Unwin Heathcote of Shephalbury. A rapid rise in house numbers among broader emerging streets thereafter must prove it a successful venture, although delayed developments probably lost chance for Huthwaite to achieve town status.
Only visible sign of those original waterworks used to be valved pipework sticking out a rectangular plot. Having been surrounded by Chesterfield Road housing, including council built schemes, fenced enclosure tried to keep playful children off the redundant site. Topped by a grassed over mound fully ensured future safety under inherited corporate ownership by Severn Trent Water.
The Hucknall Huthwaite Local Board was succeeded by a Huthwaite Urban District Council. They encounter worsening problems stretching supplies from Sutton's Coxmoor reservoir. Pressure loss adding to frequent shortages become the concern of Godfrey Bostock. He's identified holding multi roles from 1900 of Gas & Water Manager, plus Surveyor & Sanitary Inspector. The schemes 30 year term and loan repayments came to an end, but then the subcommittee delayed making any alternative arrangements.
Mr Ernest Bostock MIM&CyE of Sutton Road is identified in 1932, having taken over all multi roles previously held by Godfrey, while further adding title of Architect. March 1932 reports Huthwaite councillors opposing a proposed Sutton amalgamation, and while claiming to seek full independence, only now do they draw up plans long pressed by a Sherwood Area Water Committee to join a new Blackwell and Warsop Water Scheme. This supply was finally adopted next June. Recognising a massive £100,000 undertaking, it was designed to benefit several rural councils, serving 91,000 consuming a daily average of 20 gallons per head.
Completing the titled Meden Valley Waterworks was marked by a formal opening in March 1933 by Mr Day, chairman of the joint committee. This building sited in Budby, bears a stone above main entrance reading Meden Valley Waterworks 1932
. This is where bore holes sunk in 1929 
were found easily capable of drawing 2 million gallons daily.
Use of electric pumps forced the clear liquid at a rate of 18,000 gallons per minute into a million gallon reservoir situated at Stoney Houghton. Pumps there filled another underground 500,000 gallon reservoir found sited upon neighbouring heights of Whiteborough. Pumping is normally done overnight. Monitoring employed a state of the art glass tube fitted with electronic circuitry. This could automatically ring a bell to alert a caretaker in case levels did ever fall dramatically.
This service proved much more reliable, apart for some expected WWII shortages recalled by father. Being sent to fill jugs at Berristow Farm shared use of that owners trusty hand pumped water well.
These larger Whiteborough waterworks took over full responsibility serving beyond both Huthwaite and Blackwell. Remotely sited off Newtonwood Lane just over the county border leaves no visible clue determining if any major modernisation has ever been required inside a large enclosure.
Past generations shared their living memories possessing the marvel of one stone kitchen sink fitted with a single tap. Nobody missed the days of tin baths, laundry dolly tubs and wash boards, nor cold outside toilet pans. Having afforded far better equipped homes, all local authorities and private water companies throughout England and Wales relinquished duties after 18th July 1973. This dates the Water Act asserting to make provision for a national policy for water, for the conferring and discharge of functions as to water (including sewerage and sewage disposal, fisheries and land drainage) and as to recreation and amenity in connection with water, for the making of charges by water authorities and other statutory water undertakers, and for connected purposes.
Of the ten boards, a Severn Trent Water Authority took localised responsibility for all these historic waterworks. Name reflects interest around those two main rivers. National 1989 privatisation formed Severn Trent Plc, who apparently share broader global concerns. Selling off their Huthwaite land has presented 2012 houses
05 Apr 13 by Gary Elliott Updated 14 Sep 20