Duke to visit engine house

HIS Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester is to visit Crofton Engine House at Pewsey on the Kennet & Avon Canal during June.

The engine house with its Boulton & Watt steam engine (seen in Brian Holmes' photograph) celebrates its 200th birthday, with the duke visiting on 16th June to see the engine working.

Oldest in the world

The oldest beam engine in the world, it was installed to pump water to the top of the nearby flight of locks, and though superseded, it can still do the work.

The celebrations will be over the weekend of the 16th and 17th June, with the duke the guest of honour, arriving around 4pm on the 16th, and will unveil a plaque to commemorate the occasion.