1934 Water Mains Laid in Villages
From Lacey Green History
Harry Floyd Tells Rosemary Mortham about the Coming of Mains Water.
The digging of the water mains began in 1932. Harry can remember digging the trenches to lay the pipes to Stocken Farm and some of the surrounding fields. He was helped by George Maunder, father of Flo, whose husband, Frank Gomme, was landlord of the “Black Horse”. George had previously worked for Harry’s grandfather, William Saunders, at Smalldean Farm.
DEEP TO AVOID FROST
The pipes were laid two feet six inches deep to avoid freezing. However, in the winter of 1947 the mains did freeze up. The Black Horse and surrounding properties were without water for weeks on end.
ROAD TARMACKED TOO?
Most of the mains were laid by Irish navvies. One of their foremen, a Mr H. Harry or Harold) Lloyd lodged with Mr Ronnie Lacey at a house near the Whip. Harry thinks that Main Road was tarmacked at that time, although he can remember collecting stones to make up the road when he was young, and the stones being flattened with a steamroller.
HEAVY CAST IRON
The pipes were made of cast iron and were heavy to handle. The acid nature of the local clay soon caused corrosion, and the village suffered frequent “burst pipes”.
| 1934 Water Mains Laid in Villages | |
|---|---|
| Year | 1934 |
| Village | |
| Author | Harry Flloyd |
| Copywrite | |
| Theme | |
| Social Period | Category:1930's |