Historic Rochdale engine receives coveted award

Engineering Heritage Award

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A feat of engineering excellence housed in Rochdale was recognised with a prestigious award today (Sunday 4 November).

The Ellenroad Steam Engine, the largest working steam mill engine in the world, received one of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers’ Engineering Heritage Awards in recognition of its outstanding historical significance.

Chairman of the Ellenroad Trust, Bernard Roston, said the group knew their engine was significant and were delighted this has been recognised.

He said: “All the members and volunteers of both the Ellenroad Trust and the Steam Museum Society feel very proud that the great engine at Ellenroad has been recognised and honoured by what is regarded as the world's premier engineering institution.

“As laymen enthusiasts we have always felt sure that our engine was special, thanks to the Institution of Mechanical Engineers we now know and can prove that it is so.”

The twin-compound engine, known as “Victoria & Alexandra”, was first built in 1892 by J&W McNaught of Rochdale and powered all 122,000 spindles at the Ellenroad Mill.

Although the mill was closed in 1982 and its buildings later demolished, the engine house was maintained and still operates on steaming days throughout the year, making it the only such engine to still be operated on a regular basis.

The Engineering Heritage Awards, established in 1984, aim to promote artefacts, sites or landmarks of significant engineering importance.

The Ellenroad Engine follows other feats of engineering such as Tower Bridge, the Jaguar E-type, the Channel Tunnel, Thames Barrier and Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s “SS Great Britain” in receiving one of the coveted awards.

John Wood, Chairman of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers’ Engineering Heritage Committee, believes the Ellenroad Engine acts not only as a tribute to the past, but also as an inspiration for the future.

“The Ellenroad Engine is the sole surviving example of the most powerful type of horizontal steam mill engine,” he said.

"Twin tandem compounds were the engine of choice for the very largest and most demanding mill applications but where once these magnificent engines could have been found at the largest mills throughout Lancashire and the North West, Ellenroad is now the only survivor.

“It is so important that these essential elements of our industrial heritage are preserved not only as examples of the achievements of our engineering forefathers but also as an inspiration for the future generations.

“That they can see a great engine like Ellenroad running at speed and under steam is a huge tribute to the outstanding work of the Ellenroad Trust and the Ellenroad Museum Society for restoring and maintaining this engine."

Steaming days are held on the first Sunday of every month from February to December when the museum is open to the public from 11am to 4pm.