B.W.T.A.S. @ Chelmsford Waterworks

Essex Industrial Heritage Fair: Saturday, October 5^th 2019

Chelmsford Corporation Water Works, now Sandford Mill

Chelmsford Corporation purchased the Sandford Mill site (a water powered corn mill) in 1923 for their new waterworks. Water was taken from both the River Chelmer and a borehole, then treated before being pumped to Galleywood reservoir, where it was available to the city's inhabitants. The capacity of the waterworks was expanded in the 1950s with the construction of a new dedicated filter house and various pumping houses and storage tanks. Two million gallons of water a day could be treated at Sandford Mill when it was at it's peak. But by the 1980s, the waterworks at Sandford Mill had become redundant, replaced by the new larger waterworks nearby, that was able to pump more water.^‡

This is the venue for the Essex Industrial Heritage Fair on Saturday, October 5^th 2019, and the British Water Tower Appreciation Society will be there!   BWTAS has again teamed up with the local Balkerne Tower Trust in order to have a stand at this event. Entry and parking are both Free!!! The programme for the event includes five talks and there will be around 20 societies with display stands. Directions to Sandford Mill may be found here. The event runs from 10:00am – 4:00 pm.

The BWTAS stand will have our new display boards and our new A3 information leaflets available… We will also have copies of “Water Towers of Britain”, by Society President, Dr. Barry Barton, for sale at £7·50.  Also, Brian Light from Balkerne Tower Trust will have copies of his recently released book on Jumbo — Colchester's iconic water tower, for sale. “It is an excellent publication – a cleverly balanced combination of the academic and the popular.” Dr. D M J Barton.

Pop along to say “Hi” and pick up a copy of our new leaflet and perhaps buy a book or two and solve those Christmas present problems… I'll be there to try to answer any water tower questions that you may have… and judging by the Basildon Fair in 2017 it'll be an informative and enjoyable day.

Looking forward to seeing you there,
Ferrers

^{‡ Extract from Chelmsford City Museum Sandford Mill: The History} ↩

New Book: Jumbo — The Water Tower

BWTAS Committee member, Brian Light, has completed his book on Colchester's massive, iconic water tower, that he started writing, back in 2001.

The book, published by the Balkerne Tower Trust, tells the history of the Jumbo water tower, it also relates the story of Jumbo the elephant, describes the water tower era and a brief history of water supply. It is profusely illustrated with old drawings, documents and photographs.

Author — Brian Light with his new book.

Book Launch:

"Jumbo – the Water Tower"
Opening by Sir Bob Russell
Red Lion Books, Colchester
11^th September at 6:30 pm
(Details: here)

The launch will be followed by a short talk by the author on the origins of the book and why it is important for everyone concerned with Colchester’s local history and its most prominent landmark. All profits from the sale of the book will go towards a future restoration of Jumbo which preserves its architectural character, allows public access and provides ample historic interpretation of the famous tower.

After this event, the book will be available in Colchester, at Red Lion books, Waterstones and the Visitor Information Centre, price £9·99. Copies will also be available at the joint BWTAS/BTT stand at the Essex Industrial Heritage Fair, in Chelmsford on the 5^th October.

Information regarding the Balkern Tower Trust may be found here: www.savejumbo.org.uk

Ferrers

Essex Update…

Brian Light, Wil Harvey and Ferrers Young man the BWTAS & BTT stand at Basildon

The big news is, at last, there seems to be a bright future for Colchester's "Jumbo" water tower. Brian Light of the Balkerne Tower Trust was able to update folk at the Essex Industrial Heritage Fair, with the latest news: The Colchester and North East Essex Building Preservation Trust have reached an agreement with the owner of Jumbo, on a way forward to preserve the tower, as reported in the Colchester Gazette.

Meanwhile the British Water Tower Appreciation Society was able to provide some information on other water towers. But the information flow was not all one way — we were alerted to a large estate water tower, that until now had escaped our radar: Theobalds House, off the A10. This now needs to be researched… Additionally, we learnt that the now demolished, reinforced concrete water tower at Ripper's Joinary (seen here at the top of the photo, in 1929) not only supplied the works, but about 100 workers cottages — so now has to be recorded under "Public Water Supply" as well as "industrial". We also learnt of the tower that pre-dated the concrete one.

The information flowing both ways…

All in all, an informative and enjoyable day,
Ferrers

The amazing history of JUMBO the water tower

© Photograph Copyright Brian Light

Brian Light, Chairman of the Balkerne Tower Trust, is giving Colchester Recalled Oral History Group, a talk on the the amazing history of the town's iconic water tower. The talk is this Thursday, 15^th January, 2015 and non-members are welcome… The talk will be held in the Music block of the Colchester Institute, room K357 at 19:00. There is a £2·00 fee to cover expenses, but there is free parking there! The Colchester Institute is in Sheepen Road, Colchester, CO3 3LL. Further information can be found by clicking here.

I've had a preview of Brian's slides and it looks to be a very interesting talk, I hope see fellow water tower enthusiasts there…

Ferrers

Jumbo Information Panel Unveiled...

About 50 people congregated by Jumbo, to see Colchester's MP, Sir Bob Russell unveil the interpretation panel that the Balkerne Tower Trust had erected, on the Council landscaped area next to the tower. For the first time ever, the thousands of people who pass by will now be able to read about this magnificent building.

Below is a YouTube video of the event, further images and details of the support for this panel may be found here.

Jumbo shows his feet again!

When Nat Bocking was interviewed by Chris Wilson, for BBC Radio 4's programme, "Saturday Live" outside Jumbo in Colchester, the tower was masked by horrible hoardings. This eyesore not only masked the view of Jumbo, but the vandalism taking place behind. After a long legal battle, the hoardings that should have been removed by August 2007, finally came down a few days ago. Click on the pictures for a larger view of these Grade II* feet.

Images © Brian Light.             South elevation                                             Front, West elevation

Balkerne Tower Trust publishes their appraisal of the options for 'Jumbo'.

Balkerne Tower Trust, a registered charity, has announced the completion of an options appraisal for public use of Colchester's 'Jumbo' water tower conducted by Purcell Miller Tritton.

This report was originally commissioned over a year ago. Entirely by coincidence, Jumbo's owner, George Braithwaite, has meantime applied for planning permission to convert Jumbo into flats, a restaurant and office space. Those plans have been criticised by Colchester MP Bob Russell.

Full details of the trust's public access plan to this historic building can now be found on their new website.

On the website you can also watch a video and read thier manifesto, the complete options appraisal (as well as a brief summary), the latest news about Jumbo as it unfolds and much more.

Brian Light, chairman of the Balkerne Tower Trust, also asks the public to object to the current planning application and support their public access plan for the sake of Colchester's heritage, residents, visitors and tourism.

New proposals for Colchester's 'Jumbo' don't float with MP

The EADT reports that new proposals for conversion of Jumbo, Colchester's magnificent but neglected Victorian water tower, have already been criticised by the town's MP Bob Russell. It is reported that the new plans do not conform to what the town's planning committee had previously established as permissable. The tower was recently upgraded to starred Grade II Listed status. 

Owner George Braithwaite's planning application has finally now appeared on Colchester Borough Council's website. It calls for a change of use and alterations to provide four flats, a restaurant and offices and ancillary buildings and works.

The application number is 091343. It can be seen here. The consultation period expires on 6th November and a decision is expected on 10th December.

Happy Birthday Jumbo!

We're sorry you've been so neglected and ignored in recent years but your many fans wish you many happy returns for your 125th birthday on Saturday 27th September. 

BWTAS will be sure to remember the occasion if no one else does when it gives a tour of historic Colchester starting at 1.30 PM on the Saturday, starting at your feet.

Best Wishes,

BWTAS