Welcome
Drive a steam engine for a day in the beautiful somerset countryside.
This beautiful engine no 6759, an 8hp, Richard hornsby engine was built in 1889 and shipped to Tasmania on the 28/11/89 where it spent, most of its life. It was returned to Britain from Tasmania in 1995 when John Jeffery of Bere Farm, Winsham commenced the lengthy task of restoration. Sadly John died in 2001 before it was complete. This single cylinder engine has now been completed by Johns wife Betty, family and friends.
The company name of Richard hornsby & Co of Spittalgate Grantham Lincolnshire was well known for the diversity of its engineering and agricultural products from the 1830's. The firms portable steam engines where sold in large numbers after 1851, the D type being particularly popular.
Traction engines however were less prolific, a mere 100 of them being supplied from 1880-1890's where all of them were sent to Australia. However this particular engine was sent to Tasmania.
About your day...
Your morning will start at 10am and will consist of general cleaning, oiling and raking out the ash and lighting the boiler. Then steaming up before steaming off to Dowlish wake for a visit to Perry Cider mill and then to the New Inn for lunch. Where you will be wined and dined.
The afternoon will start at 2PM and will last until 5PM. Between this time you will have plenty of time to drive and work on this Richard Hornsby steam engine before shutting down and raking out the coals to prepare this beautiful steam engine for another day.
Engine Fact This engine is believed to be one of only four engines of this type remaining in the world and is one of the only two working engines remaining in the UK.