Title:
REPORTS ON THE WATER SUPPLY OF THE DUNMOW RURAL DISTRICT
Level: Category
Miscellaneous
Level: Fonds
REPORTS ON THE WATER SUPPLY OF THE DUNMOW RURAL DISTRICT
Dates of Creation:
1934-1956
Admin History:
According to D/DU 2181/5, a private company, the Mid-Essex Water Company, established the first mains water supplies in Great Dunmow and Felsted in 1908. At about the same time, the Hatfield Broad Oak Water Supply Company Ltd established a mains supply in Hatfield Broad Oak. In 1912 these two companies were taken over by the Dunmow Rural District Council and the Herts and Essex Water Company respectively.

In 1928 the Council provided a mains supply in Thaxted, but by 1934 it still supplied water only to comparatively small areas in Great Dunmow, Thaxted and Felsted. Following the report of that year (D/DU 2181/1), and a local inquiry held in July 1935, a large expansion took place during 1936-1938. This scheme, opened by the Minister of Health on 19 December 1938, involved the closure of the existing pumping stations at Felsted and Thaxted, construction of a new pumping station at Borough Bridge, Thaxted, and improvements to the station at Great Dunmow; three new water towers at Gussets, Great Dunmow, Cutlers Green, Thaxted and Waltham Hall, Takeley; and extensions to the mains network. According to D/DU 2181/4, in 1947 the Council's water undertaking operated throughout the District except in Hatfield Broad Oak, Great Hallingbury and Little Hallingbury. These three parishes continued to fall within the area of supply of the Herts and Essex Water Company, although in 1947 they were in fact supplied by the Council under an order of the Ministry of Health of 17 March 1939. At unknown dates between 1947 and 1956 a new borehole was sunk at Armitage Bridge, Thaxted, a fourth new water tower was built at Poplar Farm, High Easter, and further extensions to the mains were laid.
Archivist Note:
D/DU 2181/1-5 catalogued by CL, March 2004.

Key terms

TypeKey termsDescription
Subjects Water supplies Reports on water supply of Dunmow Rural District, 1934-1956 (introduction)
Place Names Felsted Reports on water supply of Dunmow Rural District, 1934-1956 (introduction)
Place Names Great Dunmow Reports on water supply of Dunmow Rural District, 1934-1956 (introduction)
Place Names Hatfield Broad Oak Mains water supply established, c.1908
Place Names Hatfield Broad Oak Mains water supply established, c.1908
Place Names Thaxted Reports on water supply of Dunmow Rural District, 1934-1956 (introduction)
Place Names Armitage Bridge
Thaxted 		New borehole, c.(1947-1956)
Place Names Borough Bridge
Thaxted 		New pumping station, 1938
Place Names Gussets
Great Dunmow 		New water tower, 1938
Place Names Poplar Farm
High Easter 		New water tower, c.(1947-1956)
Place Names Waltham Hall
Takeley 		New water tower, 1938
Place Names Cutlers Green
Thaxted 		New water tower, 1938
Institutions Dunmow Rural District Council Reports on water supply, 1934-1956 (introduction)
Institutions Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Ministry of Health Minister of Health opens Dunmow Rural District water supply scheme, 1938; order to vary areas of supply, 1939
Institutions Hatfield Broad Oak Water Supply Company Ltd Establishes mains water supplies in Hatfield Broad Oak, c.1908; taken over, 1912
Institutions Herts and Essex Water Company Takes over Hatfield Broad Oak Water Supply Company Ltd, 1912
Institutions Mid-Essex Water Company Establishes mains water supplies in Great Dunmow and Felsted, 1908; taken over, 1912