A RELIC of life centuries ago is set to be restored in the picturesque village of Terrington near Malton where the parish council is master-minding a plan to renovate its parish pump.

While it has been a feature of the oak-treed village green for years, its present appearance bears little resemblance to the original, says parish council chairman John Goodwill.

The reason, he says, is that when a big limb fell from one of the trees eight years ago, the pump was flattened.

Castle Howard, which owned the tree, agreed to repair it. But the spout and the handle were put in completely the wrong place, says Coun Goodwill.

Now it is planned to restore it to its former glory with help from the Howardian Hills parish projects heritage unit which has already enhanced Terrington's environment by painting its historic cast iron hydrants and railings, and erecting finger posts.

The parish council is to make a contribution to the cost, said Coun Goodwill, which is expected to amount to several hundred pounds.

"It would be good to get it working again but it will need equipment to pump up the water."

The pump is the last one of four original ones in Terrington and is believed to have been used up to mains water arriving in the village in the early 1930s.

Coun Goodwill recalls how people had to carry up to eight buckets of water on washing days before 8am to avoid disturbing a local notable resident nearby.

The parish council is now asking Terrington residents to search their attics for an old photograph of the pump to aid the restoration work.

The restoration of the pump is, says Coun Goodwill, yet another example of village life thriving in Terrington.

Since the opening of its village hall some seven years ago, the 350 residents have become very much involved with community organisations and events, he said.

Its catalogue of groups is legion - a village heritage committee, groups for yoga, wine, keep fit, arts and crafts, a play group, as well as having a snooker room, badminton court, and touring drama groups.

"There is something for everyone in Terrington. We have a good number of new residents who have shown great enthusiasm and been a real asset to the village," said Coun Goodwill.

Updated: 12:20 Thursday, December 06, 2001