Tower Hill Water Tower

Tower Hill Water Tower
Tower Hill Water Tower, Ormskirk.JPG
The water tower in 2007
General information
Type Water tower
Architectural style Romanesque Revival
Location Ormskirk, Lancashire
Construction started 1853
Completed 1854
Height 17 m (56 ft)
Design and construction
Client Ormskirk Local Board of Health

Tower Hill Water Tower is a disused water tower and local landmark in Ormskirk, Lancashire. Situated on the east side of Tower Hill, it was built between 1853-4 for Ormskirk Local Board of Health,[1] and is reputed to be the oldest remaining water tower in the country.[2] It was awarded Grade II* listed status in 1976,[1] and is on the Buildings at Risk Register.[3] The area immediately surrounding the tower has been used as allotments since the mid 20th century.[4]

Contents

Structure

The tower is built in the Romanesque Revival style, constructed of coursed, squared sandstone, and arranged in a square plan. On each side are two narrow full-height Romanesque arches, all with stepped surrounds and arch-bands, and linked by an impost band. Above the arches is a plain frieze with carved grotesques at the corners, topped with machicolated corbelling.[1][5]

In its present state, the tower stands at a height of approximately 17 metres (56 ft). Originally, the stonework was surmounted by a metal water tank with a pitched slate-covered roof, which added an extra 6.2 metres (20 ft) to the height of the structure. Due to its poor condition, the tank was removed in the early 1990s.[2]

Proposed developments

Planning permission was granted in 1988 for the conversion of the tower into a single dwelling, though the scheme was never implemented. Subsequent applications to convert the tower into offices or an apartment block were either refused or withdrawn.[2] A more recent application for conversion into seven apartments was made in 2004, though this has also been rejected,[2][6] and an appeal against the decision was dismissed in April 2008.[7]

Development of the site has met with opposition from local residents,[2][4] and local Conservative councillor Adrian Owens was amongst critics of the most recent application.[6][8]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Water Tower on Tower Hill". Images of England, English Heritage. http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=386420&mode=adv. Retrieved 2008-07-29. 
  2. ^ a b c d e "Planning Permission Application No. 8/2004/1644 and Listed Building Consent Application No. 8/2004/1645". West Lancashire District Council. http://webdocs.westlancsdc.gov.uk/coins/ViewSelectedDocument.asp?DocumentID=9766. Retrieved 2008-07-29. 
  3. ^ "Water Tower, Tower Hill". Heritage at Risk Register, English Heritage. p. 199. http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/publications/heritage-at-risk-register-north-west-region/harnorthwestacc.pdf/. Retrieved 22 September 2010. 
  4. ^ a b James, Henry (2008-01-30). "Battle to save allotments". The Champion. http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=6426. Retrieved 2008-07-29. 
  5. ^ Pollard, Richard; Pevsner, Nikolaus; Sharples, Joseph (2006). Lancashire: Liverpool and the Southwest. Yale University Press. pp. 535. ISBN 0300109105. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Dl_ghLUNVGsC&pg=RA1-PA535&dq=ormskirk+%22water+tower+%22&lr=&num=100&sig=ACfU3U08zEiAWUoZBQi0BnmOSnc-FBOidg#PRA1-PA535,M1. Retrieved 2008-07-29. 
  6. ^ a b "Planning Rejection first step to a better heritage landmark". Adrian Owens. 2007-07-28. http://www.adrianowens.com/news14.htm. Retrieved 2008-07-29. 
  7. ^ "Register of Planning Appeals Received 2007". West Lancashire District Council. 2008-06-13. pp. 10. http://www.westlancashire.gov.uk/pdf/Appeal%20Reg%20200713-06-08.pdf. Retrieved 2008-07-29. 
  8. ^ "Consign Water Tower Plan to Reject Bin". Adrian Owens. 2007-02-27. http://www.adrianowens.com/news8.htm. Retrieved 2008-07-29. 

See also