The Museum of Lincoln Life
Lincolnshire was home to a significant number of steam engine builders, along with agricultural and other engineering, the names of such companies as Robey, Ruston, Marshall, Clayton and Shuttleworth to name but a few, were known world for the excellence of their products. Ronald H Clark lists thirty firms in his book 'Steam Engine Builders of Lincolnshire' (recently re published as an excellent facsimilie copy of the original and on sale at the Museum)
The Museum of Lincoln Life on Burton Road, Lincoln holds a diverse collection of material relating to Lincolnshire life and industry and is well worth a visit.
In the entry hall there are mounted on the wall, collections of medals awarded at exhibitions worldwide to the four firms named above - these are so unusual here are pictures of all of them.
Robey & Co., Lincoln
Ruston, Proctor & Co. Ltd., Lincoln
Clayton & Shuttleworth, Lincoln
Marshall Sons & Co (Gainsborough)
The 'official' tour route winds it way around the buildings through numerous displays, industrial, domestic, recreations of craft workshops, including a display dedicated to the engineering firms of Lincolnshire which includes this lovely little cased horizontal duplex engine and boiler built by a Mr Death and presented to the museum on his demise by the Misses Death.
Horsedrawn carriages and hearse, cars, are to be found in the transport gallery and once into the spacious agricultural and industrial gallery there are tractors, a WW1 Mark IV tank designed and made just down the road at Fosters and all manner of other things from traction engines to handtools, some labelled but not 'formally' mounted and interpreted .
There are currently three stationary steam engines on display in the museum, the first, shown above is a Robey horizontal duplex reversing winding / hoisting engine which was used to hoist spa water in a barrel (seen behind the flywheel) at Woodhall Spa near Lincoln there are pipe connections so it is possible that this one either steams or is turned over by compressed air. Just to the right in the lower picture can be seen a Robey made banjo steam water pump.
The third is this single cylinder horizontal Ruston engine, the history of which was not apparent, non reversing with slide valve and Pickering governor and its own boiler feed pump it is not connected to a steam or air supply.
Two substantial steam engine flywheels stand outside but the staff did not know if the rest of the engines survive and are intended to be rebuilt.
It is a matter of debate if a portable engine can truly be classed as a stationary engine - they are self contained stationary engines made mobile by the addition of wheels whatever - here is a picture of one of the portables in the museum - this by Marshalls of Gainsborough.
Ploughing engines have no place on this website - so here is JOHN - a Fowler, now resident at the museum.
The full story of the 'Monster from the Blue Lagoon' is too long to fit here but this is a picture of it, a 1909 Ruston steam navvy which worked in a chalk pit at Arlesey in Bedfordshire until abandoned, the pit flooded, all that was left visible was the top of the jib UNTIL universally accredited Ruston expert Ray Hooley organised its rescue - including underwater dismantling, it was taken to Rustons works and rebuilt over a period of years by Ruston Apprentices until it looked and steamed as good as new, my first view of it was soon after rescue, my next after restoration when it GLEAMED - this picture shows that it is under the care of a local authority museum rather than enthusiasts - they were given a spotless machine in perfect working order - it now looks in nearly as bad condition as when it had just been dragged out of the water - what a disgrace !
Nevertheless, the other exhibits are well cared for and the staff extremely helpful.
The museum is open every day except Good Friday, New Years Day and 24th - 27 December. 10.00 to 5.30, (2.00 - 5.30 on Sundays October - April) there is parking and admission is reasonable.
A Steam and Oil day when machinery is run will take place on Sunday 2nd of May this year.
Further information on 01522 528448 (Tel) or 01522 521264 (Fax)