Gawthorpe Water Tower

Water tower, now disused, constructed in 1922-1928.

MATERIALS: reinforced concrete.

PLAN: the tower is circular in plan and is located on the west side of Chidswell Lane to the north-east of a late-C19 covered reservoir and to the north of a late-C20 covered reservoir.

EXTERIOR: not inspected, information from other sources. The tower is of four stages and has a low single-storey drum-shaped base with a central deeply recessed band and a doorway on the north side with an eared and shouldered architrave and a modern metal door. The base is also now topped by modern palisade fencing set around the edge, which is not of special interest. The second, and tallest, stage consists of a circular shaft rising from the centre of the base, surrounded by concentric pillars, which are braced to the central shaft and to each other. The pillars support the water tank above, which is of a larger diameter, and square in plan with a simple cornice and kicked-out feet. Arches spring from the uppermost sections where the pillars rise to meet the underside of the tank and give the appearance of an arcade. Attached to some of the pillars and horizontal braces is modern cabling and telecommunications equipment (this modern equipment is not of special interest). The tank at the third stage, which has a capacity of 200,000 gallons or nearly 1 million litres, has recessed panelling with a moulded fascia and cornice below, and a plain frieze above. The tank has an overhanging shallow conical roof surmounted by a tall domed cupola with a ball finial and an arcaded drum.

• Pursuant to s1 (5A) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 ('the Act') it is declared that these aforementioned features are not of special architectural or historic interest.