There are two ram-type water pumps in brick / stone chambers set into the north bank of Braid Burn between Hermitage House stables and the small weir upstream. These are presumed to have been installed in the 19th century, some time after the building of the house in the late 18th century, to supply water to the house and possibly the walled garden. They are now derelict to different degrees, with only parts of the rams visible above sediment and debris in the chambers. However, it is possible that they are essentially complete mechanically, and that renovation of at least one of them might be practical.

FoHB would like to sponsor a project to research and rehabilitate one or both of the ram pump systems and associated chambers, with two principal objectives:

– Carrying out a range of research and field activities to include public participation(with possibility of public site open days as well as participation in team)
– Recording, preservation and renovation of historic items to display, and possibly demonstration, level

Requests for expression of interest in participating have been e-mailed to supporters of FoHB and put on the FoHB Facebook page, and more than a dozen people have responded. This should be more than enough for a project team to be formed, and we would like to proceed with the project.