Water Tower Of Ramsgate Water Works Including Area Railings, Gate Piers To West

Water Tower of Ramsgate Water Works including area railings and gate piers to west.

A water tower erected in 1881 by engineers Stevenson and Valon. The building is constructed of red brick and terracotta, with a cast iron water tank measuring 80 feet by 50 feet, standing 60 feet high. The tower comprises three storeys with the tank mounted on top.

The base features five bays of arcading with a moulded cornice to the first floor and paired modillion eaves cornice above. The two-stage tank is braced with octagonal pattern rib-bracing. The second floor contains ten bull's-eyes (circular windows) with keyed surrounds joined by a brick band, each with a moulded apron below. The first floor is lit by ten round-headed cast-iron casements with keyed and moulded heads, cornice and cill bands, and raised aprons below. The ground floor arcading features a moulded double order of keyed semi-circular arches with keyed cast-iron casements. Central double boarded doors are surmounted by a semi-circular cast-iron fanlight.

Plaques flank the doors: on the left, an inscription reads "Ramsgate Water Works This Tower and Reservoir erected 1887 Stevenson & Valon, Engineers"; on the right, a plaque bears the town shield and is inscribed "Ramsgate Improvement Commission". The rear elevation is identical to the front, with three-bay return elevations.

The interior is divided into five bays by axial walls, each containing three arches on the ground and first floors. The water tank is supported on closely-spaced iron girders and covered by a roof with lattice-braced girder trusses. A central hoist well runs through the floors, and the original staircase is positioned against the rear wall. The tank holds 250,000 gallons.

The site includes a front area wall and railings with gate piers to the west, dating to circa 1881. These comprise a low stock brick wall and piers with rendered coping, surmounted by ornate cast-iron railings with twisted standards. The gateway at the centre features a pair of octagonal cast-iron gate piers with moulded caps and double gates of matching design to the railings.