The Pumping Station

TL 9925 SW COLCHESTER BALKERNE HILL

584/4/10041 The Pumping Station

II

Water pumping station. 1894 by J. Mackworth Wood (engineer), machinery by Easton & Anderson of London, well by Tilley & Sons of London. Designed in the style of and to serve the municipal water tower of 1883. Converted to offices 1988. Red brick with reconstituted stone details; slate roofs. Roman Italianate style. PLAN: square 2-storey and basement block to south of a long single-storey machinery block. EXTERIOR: south block with north and south elevations divided by pilasters into 3 bays, the pilasters clasping at each return. South elevation with 2 2-light cast-iron casements with arched heads containing a circular light, all set within recessed gauged round arches. East bay with a fielded door under a plain arched light. Ovolo moulded string course to first floor. 3 twin arched casements to first floor. Machicolated cornice below moulded eaves cornice. Pyramid roof. West elevation with 3 similar ground-floor casements and string course. 5 first-floor casements with gauged round arches below hoodmoulds arranged 1:3:1. Continuous machicolated cornice and eaves cornice. East elevation as west, but with 6-panelled diamond-fielded door in centre. North block with 5 gauged arches. West side with ventilation panel in north arch, a blind panel in next 2 to south, window as before in next and a C20 half-glazed door in last arch. Ovolo and ogeed rubbed brick cornice over dentil course. Gabled roof. East side with gauged recessed arches divided by splay-footed pilasters continuous with the arches. Bays one and 3 with round-arched cast-iron windows, bays 2 and 4 with 4-panelled double-leaf doors, bay 5 (separated from others by a full-height pilaster) with machine room vent. North gable end with wide round relieving arch containing an oculus. INTERIOR: south block contains well-head in basement, sited in a brick inner room with a continuous external ambulatory. Late C20 machinery.

Listing NGR: TL9920025438