About 44 square miles of Somerset are at or below sea level, a fact that inevitably gives rise to many incidences of flooding. It is not a modern problem either; the Romans were very aware of it and they made many attempts to alleviate the problems.

More major efforts were carried out during the 1600's, but nothing much was achieved until the "modern" era, when Drainage Boards connected with the local authorities were created.

The early works carried out involved trying to contain the floods between earth-banks. The water was drained away into specially-created channels, known locally as rhynes (pronounced "reens"). When low tide came, the waters were guided out through sluice gates into the rivers.

In the Fens, in the east of the country, windpumps were often used; by the 1820's, steam pumps were in use in that area. This idea was adopted in Somerset and the first steam-driven scoop wheels appeared. This is the type that was first in use at Westonzoyland.

So the pumping station was built, in 1830, by the Middlezoy, Othery and Westonzoyland Drainage Board. A 27 horse-power beam engine was installed, driving a scoop wheel. The running costs of the place were £250 a year. The wheel turned out to be too small for the job, and was positioned too low down to cope with pumping when the river was at a high level; it was not really able to efficiently prevent flooding, only clear the water quickly after flooding had happened. Eventually the land sank as drainage continued, preventing the scoop wheel from lifting the water into the river.

None of the original installation now survives, apart from the cylinder foundations. These are under the currently-existing floor. It is thought that the layout was similar to that which still exists at Stretham Old Engine nr Ely, Cambs.
Serious flooding in the 1850s led to the scoop wheel being replaced, and the successor was the Easton and Amos engine, built in 1861. Finally, in the 1950's, the old pumping station's work was taken over by the current diesel-engine pump, located opposite.

Photographs of machinery and buildings are © Westonzoyland Engine Trust 2008 Official Location Address: Westonzoyland Pumping Station, Hoopers Lane, Westonzoyland, nr. Bridgwater, Somerset TA7 0LS (Please do NOT send letters to this address, there is no letterbox!).
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