A Clean Water Supply for Histon

Until recent excessive water extraction, this area has always had a high water table. Water bearing greensand is close to the surface and this used to guarantee an accessible and abundant well supply. In addition, there were three springs. All emerged where the greensand is close to the surface. One was in ‘The Brook’, the second ‘Sweet Springs’ off Glebe Way and finally ‘Cresswell Springs’ over towards Girton. Information has been compiled from The Cambridge Chronicle, Victoria County History Vol. IX, H&IVS Archive and Oates Archive.

During the 19^thC those homes without their own wells used the village pump on The Green next to ‘The Brook’. Here, even today, the water is only about 3m down. Earliest records show Histon with a stable, but relatively large population. After 1800 it rapidly grew such that garden privies, etc., increasingly contaminated the water table.

In 1883 the principal residents (rich) of Histon and the neighbouring parish of Impington, took action (paid for) to have water piped to the village by the ‘Cambridge University and Town Waterworks Company’ (est. 1853). A surprisingly high number of residents then had access to clean water but the village pump was still used for a number of agricultural and domestic purposes.

The 1895 winter, which had begun so mildly (with reports of fruit blossom, crops of strawberries and spring flowers in the December) turned viciously cold in the New Year, freezing the piped supply. Yet again all the village became dependent on well water. Thankfully, there were no reports of serious illness, which could not be said for Cottenham parish to the north where typhoid remained endemic.

After the thaw, the pipes were replaced but at a much greater depth. In 1920 some households remained without piped water. Pollution of the water table continued until the mains sewage disposal project was completed in 1955.

1910 Village lift pump and trough.

In 1983 the Village Society embarked upon the renovation of the village pump as a memorial to Ken Oates, local historian. It was decided to restore it to its appearance in 1910. Since the pump was to be disconnected its associated wooden trough was not replaced. The project was completed in 1985 and cost, thanks to much volunteer labour, around £600. Presently the pump remains as a well-loved feature of a rather fine green with a flowing brook, trees and habitat enhanced banks.