Middleton Top

I noticed that the Middleton Top enginehouse was open yesterday and when I arrived there were no other visitors inside, which allowed me plenty of time to take photos and to talk to the very knowledgeable warden.

The double single cylinder beam geared haulage engine was built in 1829 by the Butterley Company to wind wagons on the 708 yard Middleton Incline on a gradient of 1 in 8.25. The winding cable ran around the large central wheel being driven by a gear wheel below. The incline was closed in summer 1963 and the engine is now in the care of Derbyshire County Council. On some open days it is run using compressed air.