The mining innovation that changed the world
The Newcomen engine was designed to pump water out of coal mines.
The Newcomen engine was the first commercially viable machine to be fuelled by steam.
It was an innovation that changed the world - designed to pump water out of coal mines, which enabled miners to go deeper and tap into further seams of coal, tin and other minerals.
By 1725 the Newcomen engine was a common site in mines across Britain.
One of the very few surviving examples of its boiler can be found in a quiet corner of Leicestershire.
蜜芽传媒 Leicester鈥檚 Ben Jackson went to see it for himself with Katrina Pentlow from the Swannington Heritage Trust.
Produced by Pete Wardman.
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