ST7821 : Old farm building near Fifehead MagdalenThe village water supply was provided by the system installed by Lt. Col. Browne in the early 1900s. Comprising spring water through one pipe for drinking and cooking and river water through a parallel pipe for other purposes, each supply being collected in a cistern near the river and pumped from there by a Petter oil engine to storage reservoirs disguised as a cottage alongside the drive from the Manor House to the road near the Old Chapel. The water supply flowed by gravity to houses in the upper part of the village from this disguised reservoir whilst those on Fifehead Hill and lower down used their own sources. A Council water supply was provided for Fifehead House in 1940when it was taken over by the Royal Navy (and probably connected then to Fifehead Cottage as well since the Talbot family had moved there). The supply came from the direction of Marnhull and ran up alongside Old School House and then down Village Road to Fifehead House. Shortly after the war, Colonel Richards, who had bought part of the estate, paid for the Council supply to be taken to all houses in the upper part of the village including Higher Farm.
Source:
http://fifeheadmagdalen.btck.co.uk/Recollections-PeterCustard