Water pumped from Torridge

Beside the river Torridge at Kismeldon Bridge on the Bideford-Bradworthy road stands this pump house from which water is sent from the river through the pipe (seen in the right background of the picture) up and down the roadside to augment, as required, Melbury reservoir, Parkham, from which Northam Urban District draws its supply.

A public local enquiry was held into the Council’s application for a water abstraction order which will permit them to take water and to borrow £10,000 to meet the cost of relaying and renewing the pipeline.

Gazette article 1 June 1956