A couple of weeks ago, I alerted readers to a preview clip of a film that local historian Dave Moore was making in support of his Save Sandfields Pumping Station Campaign.

Yesterday, Dave posted the complete film on the campaign blog.

It’s bloody wonderful, please do watch it and spread it widely amongst your friends and social circles.

Located on the southern edge of Lichfield, Sandfields was a key force in supporting the growth and health of the Black Country further south, pumping as it did, clean water for a burgeoning conurbation. The provision of safe and plentiful water, as Dave points out, prevented the spread of disease and helped our towns safely reach higher population densities.

Please check out the history of this almost forgotten gem, join Dave’s Facebook Group, attend the meetings or just help by sharing what you know of this fascinating building.

Dave Moore said in his accompanying blogpost:

This is the campaign film of the Friends of Sandfields Pumping Station, who are working to save a redundant Victorian Waterworks in Lichfield.

The engine and the building is one of the most underrated yet important pieces of industrial heritage we have. Built by Jonah and George Davies of Tipton, the engine pumped over two million gallons of fresh clean drinking water every day. At the time, this engine was cutting edge technology, working almost non-stop from 1873 to 1927.

The engine and building are unique, and is a magnificent monument to the lives of individuals, telling the extraordinary story of fresh drinking water, and how it supported the Industrial growth of the Black Country.

The building is now showing signs of neglect, vandalism and metal theft from the roof. Many feel unhappy that this splendid monument to the past is in grave danger. A group of people are working hard to try to save this beautiful part of Lichfield’s heritage.

To preserve it for future generations, it needs a small amount of commitment, a lot of imagination and your voice of public support…

The engine is wonderful. I saw it in 2001, and it really is a gem. Image from Dave Moore’s Flickr photo stream.