Plunger Pumps

These cast iron plunger pumps were used at Great Longstone China Clay Pit to pump clay slurry from the bottom of a 150 foot shaft up to the works for refining and drying. The plunger pump was developed by Richard Trevithick and was first used to lift water from Cornwall's tin and copper mines, powered by Cornish beam engines. These twin 12 inch bore pumps were last operated by an 80 HP oil engine and pumped 700 gallons of clay slurry a minute to the surface, but now serve as an exhibit at the Wheal Martin mining museum.