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Thursday 24 February 2011

East Dereham Victorian Tower

Brown & Co. kindly let BWTAS photograph the Victorian Tower they have for sale (details here). This large Victorian tower has great potential - but also will require a great deal of effort in order to realise it, the result could be worth it. This handsome tower is not so photogenic inside: The ground floor consists of two large rooms, the largest containing the capped borehole, probably the original one sunk in 1881. Stairs take you up to the second level, consisting of 5 rooms. These were used as office accommodation by Anglia Water, heated by open fires. From here a very steep staircase, virtually a ladder, takes you to a trapdoor through which you access the void beneath the tank, that is supported by two immense steel beams. Unfortunately I was unable to find any markings on the ironwork that would indicate the maker. A second, shorter stair/ladder gives access to the tank. This reveals a very interesting aspect: the tank is internally flanged! Normally this is done to provide a more aesthetically pleasing exterior, however this tank is totally enclosed, and in such cases would normally be externally flanged to ease cleaning. The 30,000 gallon tank has a single compartment, unlike most modern towers where it would be partitioned so that it may be drained while maintaining supply.Plans of the existing tower may be found here. The tower is located in Cemetery Road, at O.S. Grid Ref. TF 99112 14218. More information may be found about this tower in a previous post on 23rd January 2009. Photographs on this site have been re-sized for the web, the complete gallery may be viewed by clicking here, where the pictures, at full resolution, may be accessed.

Ferrers

Tuesday 1 February 2011

Calling water tower owners: photography student willing to trade images for access

Colin Baird is in his final year of a degree in professional photography at Gloucester University.


For his final year exhibition project he is concentrating on water towers in the UK. As a major part of this he would like to photograph the interiors as well as exteriors of towers that have been converted into living or office spaces. 


In return, he can offer his images which will taken on a large format film camera.


If you are able to assist him directly or give him any leads, please contact him on 07553 408253 or 01666 860703 or email colinbaird [at] btinternet.com 


This is a tower at Rodbourne, near Malmesbury, Wiltshire close to where Colin lives. Located at ST 93212 83368, it was built in 1957. If you have any additional info about the tower please leave a comment.