Base of the southern water tower to the Crystal Palace including attached low walls, brick-lined trenches and pipework

The base of the southern water tower for the Crystal Palace, including attached low walls, brick-lined trenches, and pipework, was built for the Crystal Palace Company by Fox, Henderson and Company, designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel between 1854 and 1856. The tower itself was demolished in 1940-41.

The structure features mass Portland cement concrete foundations topped with a stock brick superstructure. It consists of a thick, tapering ring of brickwork, approximately 5.5 meters high and laid in English bond. Beneath this is a subterranean area enclosed within the circular mass concrete foundation, which is around 3 meters deep. The brickwork is coated with cement render that has fallen off in places.

On the north side, there is an arched opening with a cast-iron gate. To the east of the entrance, a small brick arch at ground level protrudes a large diameter cast-iron water pipe, which is laid in a brick-lined trench and branches to the north-east and north-west, each with a large rectangular valve. To the north and east of the tower base, there are several attached low walls and a brick pavement.

Inside the tower base, a vaulted brick passageway leads to a 5-meter high square brick structure that formed the base of the brick chimney located at the center of the tower.