The Ladywell Water Tower

The Ladywell Water Tower is a water tower built between 1898 and 1900 by Ernest Newman, the founder of the Art Workers Guild. It served St Olave's Union, which was designed to accommodate the aged and infirm, marking a shift from traditional workhouses. The tower is constructed of yellow brick in Flemish bond, accented with red brick dressings and lacing courses. It stands 120 feet tall and features a battered square design with five storeys on a plinth, topped with a moulded stone band. Each floor has one cambered window opening. The structure includes a moulded stone and brick cornice and a large green painted cast iron water tank with three rows of five panels on the front. The roof is hipped with slate and features a gabled dormer with a semi-circular opening and keystone. Ornamental cast iron balustrading surrounds the tap, complete with corner finials topped with spiked balls. The tower originally had a well that was 120 feet deep, providing water for the laundry and local houses. Most of St Olave's Union has been demolished, leaving only the water tower and the central hospital unit.