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Southmoor Pumping Station is a historic pumping station located in Somerset, England, primarily designed for land drainage. It is part of the complex network of pumping stations and drainage systems that manage water levels in the Somerset Levels, an area prone to flooding due to its low-lying position.

Quirky little spot and lovely garden

Chris Osborne, a well known local figure who was active in community affairs and chaired the Town Council, was instrumental in rescuing a long-disused water pump and putting it on display in the Walter Bagehot Town Garden in 2011. This is his story explaining the significance of the pump to the town. The floods in the winter of 1960 were worse than usual. The river had burst its banks and the moors were flooded. It looked as though Bow Street would be flooded again, and badly. Houses and businesses were at risk. Chris, then a young man in his 20s, was busy in his workshop at the Great Bow Yard. He had come to Langport to construct the Langport Huish sewer system, replacing the old channel of waterways and canals. He remembers the following events well. He said: “I was wearing my Wellington boots because the water came up to your shins. I was working in my workshop when a chap called Hugh Binder walked in. He said: ‘Chris, this bloody flood is getting serious.’ Everybody was concerned at the level of rising water and could see what was going to happen. “The next thing there were four or five Green Goddess fire engines at the bank and pumping water and chucking it on the moor. I said: ‘What about the pump?'” A huge G & H Gwynne of London water pump installed in the early decades of the 20th century, sat redundant by the side of the Parrett. It was called the Invincible. He said: “It was rusty and solid as anything. We got a tractor to pull it out and we stripped it down. We replaced the glands, the bearings and totally cleaned it out. It’s a remarkable piece of engineering. “We managed to get it going about 3.15am and the noise woke everybody in the town. We removed two inches of water in the first hour and just needed to keep it going. We then got to removing eight inches per hour no problem. It worked like a dream.” The pump was kept running and drained enough water to reduce the level running through the town and keep it out of the properties. Many years later, that same pump was rescued from the river bank again and put on display www.langportheritage.co.uk

A couple of pints. Only light bites served though. A shame.

Beautiful walk across West Moor to Midelney Pump Station with views across to Muchelney and Hambridge

Closed due to pumping, bridge fenced off

Dating back to 18c, demolished in 20c. This is all that is left

An old court house, dating back to 17c

Madey Mill in East Street is mentioned in the Doomsday Book of 1086, but little is known about the house until 1592, when records show that it was owned by the Gould family, who remained in occupation until the mill passed to the Lord of the Manor. In 1717 it was sold to Thomas Hopkins, a member of a prominent milling family, and was described in the deed of sale as ‘a water and malt mill’ By 1807 it had passed to Jesse Hopkins, and in 1865 to Culliford Hopkins, when it comprised a ‘boiler house, bakehouse and water wheel’. The 17th century mill building still has much of its machinery inside, including a 3m overshot wheel made by Sparrows of Martock. It has a long mill leet to feed this high wheel, which a public footpath follows for some distance. The traditional farm buildings are still used for dairying. Source: www.martock.co.uk

Lots of droves and footpaths to walks ... ideal for walking from the village of Kingsbury Episcopi to the Midelney Pump Station

Pumping stations are dotted around the Somerset Levels to help manage its rather determined proclivity to flood. As the Levels are only marginally above sea level, it doesn’t take much to turn the area into a giant pond and water management practices have been in use since the Roman times. This pumping station sits right next to the River Parrett Trail and River Isle is a fine sliver of land in the Southmoor Main Drain which you must walk over to cross the water.

Thorney Mill, otherwise known as Thorney Silent Mill, occupies a particularly pretty point on the River Parrett. No longer in use, it’s a watermill that once ground corn, built in 1823. Why the ‘Silent’? It has wooden cogs which would’ve been far quieter than had they been made out of metal. The mill lies just off the River Parrett Trail and next to a footbridge which gives the best view of it.

Built during the 14th century, this beautiful church has a Gothic Somerset Tower which has a golden hue, thanks to its local hamstone material. A Grade I listed building, the Church of St Martin hasn’t changed much in its lengthy life, although it did undergo some renovation during the 19th century. Somerset has plenty of beautiful and old churches, but the tower of this one is particularly spectacular. It's clearly visible from the River Parrett Trail and can be rather magical if there's mist hanging in the air.

Good route .. For a trip on a nice sunny day ... See wonderful new places..

Excellent stop for the peleton, ample space to park bikes and with in indoor/outdoor seating area. Friendly local volunteers will supply with drinks and cakes for very reasonable prices.

Beautiful church, built from the 14th century. If you hike the River Parrett path, its tower rises above the landscape.

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