The Water Tower baggers thread

[LucretiaMyReflection]

Architecture article on the conversionI have quite a few photos of water towers from bike rides as it transpires.
One from August 2021 (King's Lynn - Great Massingham Loop) near Castle Acre.
Converted to living accomodation, I'd read about it in a magazine a couple of weeks beforehand; completely forgotten about it, so was very surprised to recognise this on the horizon!

 

[Dogtrousers]

I don't know anything about plumbing. Presumably there was a time when water towers were a necessary part of the infrastructure, but they have been made obsolete by the introduction of something or other. This is why old ones exist and ate being turned into residences.

What technology overtook them? When? Presumably some kind of high(er) pressure pumping?

Or are a lot of them still in use?

 

[Jenkins]

I don't know anything about plumbing. Presumably there was a time when water towers were a necessary part of the infrastructure, but they have been made obsolete by the introduction of something or other. This is why old ones exist and ate being turned into residences.

What technology overtook them? When? Presumably some kind of high(er) pressure pumping?

Or are a lot of them still in use?

The Trimley water tower I pictured on the previous page has been replaced with massive underground storage tanks (Google image link) due to the requirements of a growing population

 

[Drago]

What technology overtook them? When? Presumably some kind of high(er) pressure pumping?

High pressure water mains.

In days of old water would be pumped from the ground or a local warercourse, often powered by a wild west style windmill, and used to fill a water tower. The water tower would smooth out the supply as the demand fluctuated, and provided some water pressure.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

There was one on Grand Designs a couple of days ago
(repeat on - possibly - More 4'?)

It was in (that cesspit, named London

https://www.standard.co.uk/homesand...-home-with-space-for-art-gallery-a117516.html

 

[LucretiaMyReflection]

That Grand Designs one looks like several brick towers I’ve seen; they all appear to have a similar build date, around 1867ish. Jumbo of Colchester is the biggest, others in Friday Bridge and Saffron Walden. I meant to found out if it was the same architect and builders for all of them. Will find out, and dig out the photos too.

 

[uphillstruggler]

Meppershall water tower in Bedfordshire.

View attachment 625218

That is an impressive beast

 

[Grant Fondo]

Architecture article on the conversionI have quite a few photos of water towers from bike rides as it transpires.
One from August 2021 (King's Lynn - Great Massingham Loop) near Castle Acre.
Converted to living accomodation, I'd read about it in a magazine a couple of weeks beforehand; completely forgotten about it, so was very surprised to recognise this on the horizon!

View attachment 626318 View attachment 626319

Off-topic, but some big money in these 'utility conversions' .... 3 bed penthouse at Kings cross (gas tower) £7.4 million

 

[figbat]

I sometimes find myself at a loss in terms of a target for a ride, meaning I just repeat known ones. This thread inspired me to go and bag a water tower I used to live near. If you have driven east along the M4 past Reading on a clear day you’ll have seen this from miles away.

And right next door…

And then just over a mile away, still in Tilehurst…

 

[LucretiaMyReflection]

I sometimes find myself at a loss in terms of a target for a ride, meaning I just repeat known ones. This thread inspired me to go and bag a water tower I used to live near. If you have driven east along the M4 past Reading on a clear day you’ll have seen this from miles away.
View attachment 626691

View attachment 626692

And right next door…
View attachment 626693

And then just over a mile away, still in Tilehurst…
View attachment 626694

The Tilehurst brick tower is an interesting design, I'm guessing that's been converted to living space.

 

[figbat]

The Tilehurst brick tower is an interesting design, I'm guessing that's been converted to living space.

It has, yes.

 

[Willd]

Mears Ashby

 

[PeteXXX]

Mears Ashby

View attachment 626849

I did that one but in the dark! 😂

 

[PeteXXX]

Brixworth water tower

A kind of water tower overlooking Pitsford Reservoir

 

[biggs682]

Bike in front of one water tower?

Pah.

Take my bike in front of a church and TWO watertowers!

View attachment 620511

Rockwell Green in Somerset

Use to live in Rockwell Green many many moons ago .