Ever wondered how Cambridge dealt with its waste before modern sanitation? The Cambridge Museum of Technology holds the answer. Right here before you stands a testament to Victorian ingenuity. This isn’t just a museum it’s a living history lesson. The original building a scheduled monument housed a combined sewage pumping and waste destructor station built in 1894.
The Cambridge Museum of Technology isn’t your typical museum. It’s located in a former sewage pumping station. This remarkable building showcases Cambridge’s industrial heritage. The museum tells the story of local industries and the people who powered them. The site boasts green spaces making it a fun family destination. Expect audio-visual displays hands-on exhibits and children’s activities.
Imagine 1894. Cambridge’s untreated sewage flowed directly into the River Cam. A solution was needed. A sewage farm was built in Milton. This is where the Cambridge Museum of Technology’s story begins. This pumping station was groundbreaking. It was the first in the world to be powered by processed household waste. The boilers were fired by rubbish. This included coal textiles paper bones and general waste. This innovative system was remarkably efficient. Even the ash was used for road making.
The museum’s star attractions are two Hathorn Davey steam engines. One is fully operational and often runs on steam weekends. These engines pumped 250000 gallons of sewage per hour. They did this until 1968 when a new electric engine house was built. The chimney shaft is 175 feet tall. It was even scaled by Fred Dibnah for repairs. This event was featured on a BBC program.
The museum doesn’t stop at steam power. Explore gas engines added in 1909 to handle increased demand. See the 1937 electric pump designed for storm surges. Discover a wealth of other exhibits. These include a working steam winch printing technology and a large collection of electrical apparatus. The Cambridge Museum of Technology offers a captivating journey through time. It unveils the city’s less-known industrial past. The museum inspires and educates. It celebrates the achievements of Cambridge’s ingenious innovators and workers. So step inside and let the story unfold.