A few days after my father-in-law passed away, we went to visit the Crofton Beam Engines. This is definitely a place that Dave would have loved and I'm sure he had visited. As stated on the official sign above, the Crofton Beam Engines is home to "The oldest working beam engine in the world, in its original location and able to perform its original task." This is an interesting fact, but I have to confess that I have little interest in steam-powered beam engines. We went on a small tour (six people with the guide) and although the guide was very knowledgeable and I enjoyed the tour, I really can't remember any specific information. I do know that I have friends who read my blog that are interested in engineering, so please enjoy the pictures and excuse my lack of concrete information.
We found ample free parking in a lot across the street. Here are some shots of the grounds as we walked towards the entrance.
We didn't visit on a steaming day, but the upside is we practically had the place to ourselves. We paid our 4.50 pounds each and headed to The Engine Man's Rest Cafe for lunch.
Dan ate a grilled cheese sandwich and I had a delicious quiche. However, the real winner was the cakes we ate for dessert. England is a country that knows how to make cake. They have the best desserts and a "Onesies/ aka- afternoon tea/snack" is a great excuses they have for consuming amazing cakes. We could learn a lot from England!
After lunch, we had our tour. Here are the pictures.
After our tour, we took a short walk through a tunnel to see the Kennet & Avon Canal.
If you're visiting the Wilton/Marlborough area, the Crofton Beam Engines is a great piece of engineering history and a lovely way to spend a few hours. Make sure to splurge on cake in the cafe!
