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Wednesday 25 June 2014

Bishopthorpe, North Yorkshire (1863-1946)

Photographer: Mrs. Nicholson. (Bishopthorpe Community Archive)

The existence of Archbishop Thomson's water tower, has only recently come to the attention of the British Water Tower Appreciation Society. The fascinating storey of this water tower, built in 1863 and sadly demolished in 1946, is told on Bishopthorpe Local History Group's web site. The tower was located on Acaster Lane between Main Street and Ferry Lane, at what I can best estimate to be at O.S. Grid Ref. SE 59616 47597.

Ferrers

Wednesday 11 June 2014

Rye cistern, East Sussex (1735)

© Photograph Copyright David Harrison

Not a water tower, as the tank is not elevated – water is stored in the domed, oval brick storage tank, that extends 3 feet beneath ground level providing 20,000 gallons of storage. Above this, the upper portion has a gauge board indicating the water level and presumably contained a pump to extract water from a well and/or distribute the water. Located in the grounds of St Mary's church, in what was known as Pump Street, now Church Square, at O.S. Grid Ref. TQ 92176 20322, this now grade II* listed building was erected in 1735 as part of a scheme costing £600 to improve the town’s water supply. However, the cistern's proximity to the butcher's area caused some problems - in 1754, several calves feet were found in it! BWTAS would like to thank David Harrison for sending us the photograph, taken on 1st May 2009.

Ferrers