Romaldkirk Water Pump and Trough

The village of Romaldkirk, thought to be named after the little-known Saxon Saint, St Rumwold, is a picturesque place on the eastern edge of Teesdale. It was named in the Domesday Book in 1086 (listed as Romoldscherce), and at its heart lies its village green where you can find an old water pump and stone trough.

The pump and water trough are Grade II listed and thought to date from the 19th century where it would have been one of the few sources of clean water available to the villagers. While we are all used to getting our water piped to our taps and available instantly, back then fetching water would have been a daily chore.

These regular visits to the water pump would have created a focal point for the village, allowing people to meet and talk and pass on information, news etc making it a social and communal activity.

The pump is not particularly ornate, neither is the low, semi-circular stone trough, both built as utilitarian structures. The official listing entry on Historic England's website simply states it is a;

“Water pump and trough. Mid C19. Iron pump in wood case; stone trough.

Water pump, in planked case with sloping top, has cylindrical front spout and S-curved side handle.

Low semi circular-plan trough.

A village feature.”

As the 20th century would have progressed and technology and infrastructure improved, piped water would slowly become the norm, even in remote places such as Romaldkirk. The function of the water pump ceased and it became, as its listing states, “a village feature”.

Interestingly there is another “village feature” a short distance away on another of its village greens, namely a set of stocks! Just to the rear of the Kirk Inn you can find the stocks, which are thought to be medieval in date, and there is enough room to fit two unruly children, or grandparents who have had a few too many shandies in the nearby pubs!

The stocks would have been used to punish those who had committed a minor offence, and their legs would be restrained by the metal loops. The public could then humiliate the offender by throwing rotten fruit, kicking them or even spitting on them. On the day of our visit we were on our best behaviour so avoided a spell of “confinement in the wood”.