On May 1, 4:13*pm, "Muddymike" wrote:
I have now opened up the well in the back yard and ordered a pump. The
trouble was the well had a deck 8m down supporting an old pump with no way a
new pump could be lowered into the water from above. It seems it was
complete luck that my original weight on a string found its way through a
small crack to the water when I dangled it down through the little hole I
first drilled.

So the old pump had to come out. Luckily the pumping mechanism was still
partially intact with a steel rod reaching almost to the surface, as in.http://share.ovi.com/media/Muddymike...uddymike.10601

A Rope was attached to this and to the Land Roverhttp://share.ovi.com/media/Muddymike.Garden/Muddymike.10600?sort=0
So by pulling on the rope, then clamping the rod off to re position the rope
a few times the old pump came to the surface. You can see in this picture
the rod rising up.
Now at one point with the pump almost out of the well disaster nearly struck
as the pull rope broke when the pump got caught up on an obstruction.
Luckily I had thought of this and had a second rope secured already as back
up. The upside was that the old pump crashing 30 feet smashed a big hole in
the deck so now its very easy to get the new pump in.

The pump was finally manhandled out, but boy is this thing and the 18 feet
of 2 inch steel pipe below it along with all the crap attached to it heavy.
My son and I struggled with that stage.
Here it is for all to see.http://share.ovi.com/media/Muddymike...e.10602?sort=0

and

http://share.ovi.com/media/Muddymike...e.10603?sort=0

I am now wondering what age this contraption can be. I am assured that when
our house was built mains water was available so no need for a well. It must
therefore have been installed for the old hall in the grounds of which our
house was built. Anyone have any idea how old the pump might be from the
picture? Interestingly it still works, and the bronze (or whatever its made
from) bolts undo easily as does the gland nut. Also of interest to me is
that although the bolts appear the same size all the heads vary a bit in
size, hand made perhaps? Sadly I can't find a date or manufacturers mark
anywhere. I shall clean it up a bit and post another picture soon.

Mike

Wow, what a feat. We have something similar in our well, so I would
guestimate around 1870. We use the water for gardening; it's
obviously a source as it never runs out despite heavy use. I feel I
have been on a journey with you since you left Norfolk and started
your garden, remember the hidden path you found? I do look at the
progress and wonder what you will do next, well done Mike.

Judith