Mains stop cock out of the dark ages?

[footprints]

OK reverting to this century, yes you understood perfectly!

You say you were exercising the stop cock is it on at the moment does it leak? if not simply cut the pipe above and fit another above it I doubt there will be too much reduction in flow, you have two other options if so either fit a full bore valve (although I am not sure it conforms to water regs, still I guess technically you still have a stopcock with a loose jumper fitted) or bush up to a 22mm valve and then down again.
I have fitted second stop cocks in two houses before and they have been fine for flow rate.
I would try it with a normal 15mm compression valve (compression because you may have old 1/2" pipe not 15mm and solder fittings don't fit both sizes, they are not as forgiving as compression ones) then you can change it later if you have trouble, but I suspect it will be OK.

 

[sinc9603]

Thanks footprint

"You say you were exercising the stop cock is it on at the moment does it leak?" ---- luckily it doesn't leak and still works (pure luck)

"bush up to a 22mm valve and then down again." --------- Is this to get around the flow issue? (Excuse my lack of knowledge, I'm learning rapidly)

Thanks for everyones advice by the way, much appreciated

 

[footprints]

Yes a larger stopcock should offer less resistance to flow due to larger internals.
Lots of options, but try a refurbish first but then go for a 15mm stopcock if that's not practical, as a rule the simple solution is usually the best!

Most important thing is to avoid stress on the old lead as much as possible.

 

[JBR]

It is very usual for idiots to bury garden stop-cocks, or pave over them.

Years ago, some idiots (council subcontractors, I suppose) did just that. They tarmacked over our external stop cock in the road.
Years later, when I realised(!) there was nothing there, the water board denied there ever having been one. Even more years later, when the gas board was excavating and replacing the mains, the stop cock was revealed. Red faces from the water board who, in fairness to them, replaced the housing and ironwork.
I'll keep a special eye out when they next re-surface the road.

Sorry to stray off-topic.