Jumbo Water Tower
{{Short description|Victorian water tower in Colchester, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox building
| name = Jumbo Water Tower
| image = Jumbo Water Tower, Colchester, Essex, UK photographed by Ritchie Hicks.jpg
| image_size =
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Jumbo Water Tower photographed from the west in 2011
| coordinates =
| address = Balkerne Gate, Colchester, Essex, England
| years_built = 1882–3
| opened_date = 1883
| designations = {{Designation list
| embed = yes
| designation1 = Grade II* Listed Building
| designation1_offname = Municipal Water Tower (Jumbo)
| designation1_date = 2 December 1971
| designation1_number = {{NHLE|num=1123669|short=y|postscript=none}}
}}
}}
Jumbo Water Tower is a water tower at the Balkerne Gate in Colchester, Essex, and the largest water tower in the UK. Charles Clegg (c. 1855 – c. 1904), the Borough Surveyor and Engineer, designed the structure. The tower is {{convert|40.1|m}} tall overall and contains 1.2 million red bricks.{{cite web |url=http://www.engineering-timelines.com/scripts/engineeringItem.asp?id=59 |title=Engineering Timelines - Colchester Water Tower}} The tower was nicknamed 'Jumbo' after the London Zoo elephant as a term of derision in 1882 by Reverend John Irvine, who was annoyed that the tower dwarfed his nearby rectory at St Mary-at-the-Walls.{{Cite web |title=Column: Rev John, Jumbo and another remarkable story in Colchester's history |url=https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/18995105.rev-john-another-remarkable-character-colchesters-history/ |access-date=2022-11-09 |website=Gazette |language=en}}
Construction and design
Construction took around 20 months and was completed in 1883. 1,200,000 bricks and 819 tons of stone and cement were used in the construction of the tower. The tank is constructed of cast-iron bolted panels and when it was in use could hold 1,069 cubic metres (37,800 cubic ft) of water. It was claimed at the time to be the second-largest water tower in England."Reputedly the second largest building of its kind in England", John Booker, Essex and the Industrial Revolution, Essex Record Office 1974, p 175.
Inside the central pier are 157 steps to a cupola which at {{convert|35.37|m}} above ground offers views a long way over Colchester and the surrounding area.
It was Grade II* listed in 1971.{{Cite web |title=Municipal Water Tower (Jumbo), Non Civil Parish - 1123669 |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1123669 |access-date=2022-05-18 |website=Historic England |language=en}}
Post use history
After a century of service the water tower became superfluous to the water supply system and was sold off by Anglian Water in 1987. It has had multiple owners since. In 2001 after prolonged controversy permission was granted on appeal to replace the tank with a glass walled penthouse, but work on this never started and permission expired. In 2006 at the height of the UK property boom, Jumbo was sold at auction for £330,000 to a local developer. In 2008 a local charity, the Balkerne Tower Trust, was formed with the aim of restoring the Grade II* listed tower and making it a heritage attraction with guided public access.
In September 2011, a subsequent planning application to convert the tower into a penthouse, flats and restaurant was rejected by Colchester Borough Council by 7 votes to 5.{{cite web|url=http://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/9242295.Updated__Flats_plan_for_Jumbo_water_tower_rejected/|title=Updated: Flats plan for Jumbo water tower rejected|work=Gazette|access-date=5 January 2015}} Further planning applications in 2013 were also refused,{{cite web|url=http://www.planning.colchester.gov.uk/WAM/showCaseFile.do;jsessionid=6563DA9F81F31242C5F8E13A28054CD7?action=show&appType=Planning&appNumber=131020|title=Development: Change of use and alterations to provide a mixed use development... : The Jumbo Water Tower, Balkerne Passage, Colchester CO1 1PA|publisher=Colchester Borough Council|access-date=5 January 2015}} and the building was put up for sale in May 2014,{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-27162392|title=BBC News - Colchester's 'Jumbo' water tower to be sold|work=BBC News|date=26 April 2014 |access-date=5 January 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/daily-news/council-fails-to-approve-4m-overhaul-of-colchesters-jumbo-water-tower/8655107.article|title=Council fails to approve £4m overhaul of Colchester's 'Jumbo' water tower|date=4 November 2013 |publisher=Architects' Journal|access-date=5 January 2015}} selling for £190,000 at auction{{cite web|url=http://www.auction.co.uk/residential/LotDetails.asp?A=877&MP=125&ID=877000069&S=L&O=A|title=Allsop LLP Residential Online Catalogue - Auction Home|publisher=Auction|access-date=5 January 2015}} to local poultry farmer Paul Flatman.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-27641267 |title=Colchester's 'Jumbo' water tower bought by poultry farmer
|date=30 May 2014 |publisher=BBC News |access-date=11 May 2019}} A scheme devised by North Essex Heritage, a Building Preservation Trust to construct a restaurant, gift shop and heritage centre within the tower was set back in July 2018 when an application for a Heritage Lottery Fund grant was turned down.{{cite web |url=https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/plans-to-redevelop-jumbo-water-tower-on-hold-1-5589906 |title=Future uncertain for Jumbo after heritage funding bid is rejected |last=Sandalls |first=Katy |date=3 July 2018 |publisher=East Anglian Daily Times - Archant Community Media Ltd |access-date=10 May 2019}}
In December 2021, the tower was leased by Paul Flatman to North Essex Heritage for a 150-year term. The Trust plans to adapt the tower to house a restaurant, visitor experience and historical interpretation space.{{Cite news|date=2021-12-17|title=Colchester Jumbo water tower restoration plans boost|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-essex-59699064|access-date=2021-12-30}} In April 2024, comedian Griff Rhys Jones, also the President of The Victorian Society, gave his support to the restoration project.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-68802789 |title=Griff Rhys Jones backs restoration of Colchester Jumbo water tower |last=Heywood |first=Harriet |date=13 April 2024 |publisher=BBC News |access-date=13 July 2024}}
See also
- Grade II* listed buildings in Colchester (borough)
- Tower Hill Water Tower, a water tower of similar design in Ormskirk, Lancashire
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Jumbo Water Tower}}
- [http://www.savejumbo.org.uk Balkerne Tower Trust]
- [http://colchesterbpt.co.uk/2021/12/17/jumbo-lease/ North Essex Heritage]
{{City of Colchester}}
{{coord missing|Essex}}
Category:Buildings and structures in Colchester (town)
Category:Water towers in the United Kingdom