Edward H. Crump, The Village Pump, Burbage, and Charles Hands plaque

This commemorative plaque records: The Village Pump. This photograph, taken outside The Cross Keys, shows a street scene that would have been familiar to the men and woman settings off from Burbage to serve in the First World War. To commemorate those who never returned, a pump was again installed in the village centre in the centenary year of the end of the conflict. Clean water was finally brought to the village in 1915 and, over time, communal pumps like this one were removed. Burbage's permanent water supply was was officially turned on at a ceremony on 30th July 1915 by the Chairman of Burbage Water Committee Mr Charles Hands and town engineer Mr Edward Crump.

Edward H. Crump and Charles Hands were instrumental in bringing clean water to Burbage, with the village's permanent water supply officially turned on in 1915 under their supervision; this improvement significantly enhanced public health and quality of life for the villagers.