Museums & Galleries · Cambridge
Stretham Old Engine
📍 CB6 3LF
Photo: William M. Connolley at English Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0), via Wikimedia Commons
- Last complete surviving steam drainage engine of its kind
- See the massive beam, flywheel and engine still move
- Engine and station preserved as they were in 1947
- Guided tours with stories from volunteer guides
- Toilet facilities added for improved visitor experience
Stretham Old Engine is the last complete survivor of the steam-powered drainage engines that once worked across the Cambridgeshire fens, lifting floodwater from the fields throughout the 1800s. Though the original boilers no longer run, the engine, beam and flywheel still move, now powered by electricity, giving you a genuine sense of how it once operated. Volunteer guides maintain the engine and station exactly as they were when it stopped working in 1947, sharing stories as you explore. It suits anyone curious about industrial and local history, set beside the peaceful Great West river. Toilet facilities were added in 2019 for visitor comfort. Staying nearby is easy too, with Ely station 4.3 miles away and 17 bookable places to stay within 5 miles.
Practical details
- Open
- Open Days for 2026 now available
- Best for
- Visitors interested in industrial history and steam engines
From the attraction's own website on 3 Oct 2026 — check before you travel.
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Make a proper break of it — these stays are all within 25 miles.
1.5 mi
2.2 mi
2.2 mi
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2.4 mi
3.6 mi
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🗓️ Make a break of it
Turn a visit to Stretham Old Engine into a proper getaway — ready-made plans, and the drive worked out with fuel, EV charging and the best stops.
🚆 Or come by train
- Ely 4.3 miles
- Soham 4.4 miles
- Waterbeach 5.1 miles
Straight-line distances · live departures on each station page