Water Tower

Water Tower, Rivey Hill, Linton

This water tower was built in 1935–6 as part of the Linton mains water scheme. The consulting engineers were Sands & Walker of Nottingham, with brickwork executed by H. J. Paintin of Linton and steelwork by R. Watson of Bolton.

The tower is constructed of red brick in English bond, with concrete dressings and a grey slate roof. It has an unusual dodecagonal (12-sided) plan. The exterior features a conical slate roof with 4 gablets and a finial. Twelve tapering buttresses at the angles of the tower are marked with closers and concrete offsets. Between the buttresses are narrow rectangular stepped recesses. Tall metal windows occupy the bottom of the recesses on 4 sides, while small metal windows are positioned at the top of the recesses on all 12 sides. A round-arched doorway at ground level on the east side is surmounted by a commemorative metal plaque. The upper stage concealing the water tank is blank, with concrete bands forming an eaves cornice below the roof. Mobile communications equipment has been subsequently affixed to the upper stages.

Inside, a cylindrical steel water tank is supported on a 4-stage open structure of steel girders, embedded into 12 internal brick buttresses. A concrete floor exists at the 3rd stage.

The tower stands approximately 100 feet high and contains an 87,500-gallon water tank. It was built following South Cambridgeshire Rural District Council's approval in August 1934 of a comprehensive water supply scheme for Linton and surrounding villages, which had suffered from severe water shortages. The scheme included 34 miles of cast iron pipework, a 60-foot-deep well, and a pumping station in Back Road. Work commenced in March 1935 and was completed in June 1936. The steelwork cost £2,030 and the brickwork £3,788. The provision of fresh water to over 5,000 people transformed the district and enabled the construction of a secondary school in Linton in 1937.

As demand increased during the 1960s and 70s, two reservoirs were constructed in the grounds near the tower, and two further reinforced concrete towers were erected on nearby hills. The tower remains prominent on its exposed hilltop location and serves as the emblem of the local Village College.