Parliament granted permission in 1866. It was for new waterworks in Fulbourn. The Horse Pond is part of that history. Mr Charles Hawksley prepared the scheme. He oversaw its completion. A pilot shaft seventy feet deep was sunk. A pumping well fifty feet deep was dug next to it. Two steam-powered pumps were installed. They could deliver a million gallons of water daily.
The Horse Pond wasn’t just any pond. It was specifically mandated. The Cambridge University and Town Waterworks Act of June 25 1886 detailed its construction. The Act required a pool or pond. It had to be twenty yards by ten yards. Its maximum depth was three feet. The Horse Pond had to be continually supplied with water. The amount was regulated and controlled. It could not exceed five thousand gallons a day.
The Horse Pond’s construction had strict guidelines. The surveyors of highways approved plans and specifications. The Horse Pond was built under their supervision. The plans included water admission and discharge. A continuous current was allowed if the surveyors desired it. Convenient access for vehicles horses and cattle was also required. There was even a provision for a standpost. It had to be at least seven feet high to fill water carts. This standpost was to be near the Horse Pond.
The Horse Pond wasn’t merely a functional element of the waterworks. It served as a vital part of the infrastructure. It ensured water was readily accessible to the community. It also played a role in supplying water carts. Its presence reflects the careful planning and foresight. This was essential in meeting the growing demand for water. The Horse Pond’s story is a testament to the challenges. These were overcome in providing essential resources to Cambridge and its surrounding villages. It remains a unique landmark. It reminds us of the vital role water plays. It speaks of the ingenuity and determination of those who built it.