130 The Drainage of Fens and Low Lands, 



large outfall drains, with suitable sluices, having their outlets into the 

 river Trent at Keadby, Althorpe, and Owston Ferry in Lincolnshire, 

 also the cutting of what is known as the Dutch River, which empties 

 itself into the river Ouse at Goole. The Level is separated into 

 two districts by the ancient River Torne, which brings upland waters 

 for many miles, and discharges the same at Althorpe. 



South District^ Wroof, or Bull Hassocks Engine. — The area of 

 this district is 7270 acres, the average level of the surface of the 

 land being only a few feet above low-water mark in the Trent, conse- 

 quently the natural drainage was totally insufficient in wet seasons. 

 Upwards of forty years ago a steam-engine was erected at a place 

 called Little Hirst, about 3 J miles from the outfall at the Trent ; but 

 experience showed that it was placed too far from its work, and in 

 1857 it was removed to its present position. Bull Hassocks, near 

 Wroot The engine was not new when purchased, having been con- 

 structed for marine purposes. It is a side-lever engine of 40 horse- 

 power nominal, equivalent to 70 water horse-power. The scoop 

 wheel is 30 feet diameter and 2 feet 1 1 J inches wide, and works at 

 the rate of 4J revolutions per minute, with an average lift of 5 feet. 



North District, Dirtness Engine, — This district contains 10,660 

 acres. The entire works of drainage were previous to the year 1862 

 vested in the *' Trustees of Decreed Lands"; but in that year, by 

 Act of Parliament, they were incorporated under the title of the 

 " Corporation of the Level of Hatfield Chace," and twelve commis- 

 sioners were appointed in the usual manner. Powers were taken to 

 improve the drainage of the entire Level, and to erect machinery for 

 the north district at Dirtness, about two miles from the town of Crowle. 

 The new engines were built in 1864-65 by Messrs. Watt and Co., 

 of the Soho Works, Birmingham, and comprise two compound con- 

 densing beam engines, each 50 horse-power nominal. The high- 

 pressure cylinder is 20 inches diameter, with a stroke of 4 feet 4J inches. 

 The low-pressure is 35 inches diameter, with 6 feet stroke. The 

 two engines are coupled at an angle of 90° to a crank shaft carrying 

 the fly-wheel, and a pinion which gears into a wheel with wooden 

 cogs and shaft passing through the engine-house wall, and carrying a 

 pinion gearing into teeth cast with the rim of the scoop wheel. 

 Steam is supplied by four double-flued boilers, 20 feet long by 7 feet 

 diameter, working to a pressure of from 20 lb. to 30 lb. steam. 

 The scoop wheel is 33 feet 3 inches diameter and 6 feet wide, and is 

 capable of raising and delivering 12,000 cubic feet of water 7 feet 



