Cambridge Museum of Technology  Tel: (01223) 368650
Site Index
Introduction
Based in the original sewage pumping station for Cambridge, the Museum of Technology exists to preserve and exhibit material that is relevant to the Cambridge area, either by its use or its invention. Our collections include:
  • The pumping station's original equipment and other engines.
  • A number of products manufactured by W.G. Pye of Cambridge.
  • Letterpress-printing equipment ranging from early hand operated presses to power machinery.
  • Instruments from Cambridge Instrument Company.
  • Information and artefacts from local industries.
Brief history of site
The Museum is based in Cambridge's old sewage pumping station, which was closed down in 1968. Up until 1894, untreated sewage was flowing into the River Cam through a network of collapsing and overused sewers. Several methods of resolving the problem were investigated, varying from repair to complete replacement. The method finally chosen was to deepen and widen the existing sewers and add a steam pumping station to pump the sewage to a new sewage farm at Milton. The original building was built in 1894 and shows a progression of the development of power, from steam, through internal combustion, to electricity. The steam engines performed this task for 74 years, from 1895 to 1968. The site is one of the earliest examples of recycling because the city's rubbish was burned here to produce steam to power the steam engines to pump the sewage.

Rubbish! The Story of Waste in Cambridge, Coming to the Museum April 2012
Rubbish exhibition
This exhibition looks at how the people of Cambridge have dealt with their rubbish over the years. From the 1890s to the middle of the 20th century the town's rubbish was used to fire the boilers at the pumping station which is now home to the museum. But what did people do before the pumping station was built? Find out in this exhibition as we take you on a tour of the dirtier side of Cambridge's history. We'll also uncover the mysteries of what happens to your rubbish today. Where do all those old video tapes we don't watch any more go? You might even find you are wearing something you tossed into the bin last year!

The exhibition runs until the end of September 2012

Find out more
  • Start the tour here Virtual Tour
    Take a brief virtual tour around the museum to learn about the development of the pumping station and find out more about what there is to see at the musem.see more...
  • Horace Darwin Cambridge Instrument Company
    Discover how a company founded by Horace Darwin fueled the advance of the scientific instrument industry read more...
  • Volunteer at work Support us
    Find out how you can help the progress of The Cambridge Museum of Technology by becoming a member or even a volunteer. read more...

Upcoming events
For more information on the events listed below and all our other events, please see our Events & Admission Prices page:
  • Morris Minor day - Sunday 13th May
  • Spring Bank Holiday Steaming - Sunday 3rd and Monday 4th June
  • Classic & Vintage Motorbikes Day - Sunday 24th June
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