'Jumbo' Water Tower in Colchester sees new plans for a transformation
The tower was built in 1882-3.
Fresh plans have been unveiled to transform a historic water tower in an Essex city, which has become a famous local landmark and attraction. Colchester’s Jumbo Tower is set to be revamped to create a better visitor experience.
The monumental Jumbo water tower in Colchester is the last intact structure of its kind from a ‘golden age’ of industrial water engineering. Built in 1882-3, the water tower was given its nickname after the elephant sold by London Zoo to Barnum’s Circus in 1882 and it has been known as Jumbo ever since.
Construction of the tower required 1.25 million bricks and 142 tons of iron to support the tank that can hold 230,000 gallons of water. It was decommissioned in the 1980s and permission had been granted for a residential conversion.
Standing at 131 feet tall – roughly ten elephants or nine double-decker buses stacked on top of each other – it towers over much of the Colchester skyline. It has been closed to the public for decades but under new plans, it could be transformed for spaces for hire and community events, as well as education, heritage and views across the city.
The plans state: “Jumbo is deemed to have a high level of significance in historic, aesthetic and communal value. The project will ensure ongoing and improved public engagement with Jumbo so will enhance the communal value.
“It is also important to retain or enhance the aesthetic value. This will be achieved by maintaining, and repairing where necessary, the key features of its appearance, including the silhouette from distant views, coursing of the tank panels, pattress plates, the ornate masonry, and the copper roofs.”
Colchester’s Balkerne Water Tower, affectionately known as ‘Jumbo’, is the largest Victorian municipal water tower in England. Completed in 1883, it is Grade II* listed, and maintained its original use until 1984.
Since its closure, subsequent owners have attempted to find a suitable use for the tower. However, the requirement to provide safe vertical access to the tower and the logistics of achieving this with minimum impact on its significance, have reduced its potential financial viability. As a result, none have so far been successful.