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WONDERFUL WATER TOWERS IN BRITAINBarton map number 08
In order to display a database of water towers, Britain has been divided into county groups with each group on a separate web page. The starting point is the towers identified in Barton B. (2003) Water Towers of Britain, The Newcomen Society. This data has then been updated.
Website: Click Here ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Buckinghamshire  MURSLEY WATER TOWER (08BU01) This water tower is located just to the north of the village of Mursley in central Buckinghamshire, south-west of Milton Keynes. Not only is it a functioning water tower operated by Anglian Water Services, it is also a memorial to the 4 crew members who died when their Wellington bomber crashed into the tower on the 11 April 1943 during World War II. The tower had just been constructed in 1938 when the war broke out the following year. A plaque in the grounds commemorates the event. Grid. Ref. SP 8169829231.  GREEN HAILEY WATER TOWER (08BU02) Princess Risborough, Bucks. This tower lies in woodland at the top of Kop Hill. Grid. Ref. 824035. The tower is managed by Thames Water. This is one of several towers sited on the Chilterns Hills chalk escarpment. 3 Ash Hill, Newport Pagnell GONE 4 Prestwood GONE  CHIVERY WATER TOWER (08BU05) Aston Clinton. This water tower has still to be discovered. In spite of extensive searches, its location has remained a mystery to our investigators. However Chivery hamlet was found about 3 miles south-east of Aston Clinton and about 2 miles south of Tring. The tower was apparently sold in 2019 but was it then taken away???? What was found was Chivery reservoir and water booster station on the likely site, operated by Thames Water. And a quaint historic water works at the bottom of the hill a short distance away on Bottom Road (see picture). 6 Lee 7 Northey 8 Bow Brickhill GONE  LANE END WATER TOWER (08BU09a) Lane End village, Bucks. This tower lies in woodland to the west of village; just off the B482 road opposite Lammas Way. Grid. Ref. 803917. The tower is managed by Thames Water.  There is also a second tower and reservoir east of the village. WIDDENTON PARK TOWER (08BU09b) It is managed by Thames Water and lies at the end of a rough track into woodland just south of the eastern road bridge over the M40. Grid. ref. 817916.
10 Terriers, High Wycombe GONE  FLACKWELL HEATH WATER TOWER (1 of 2) (08BU11) Tower Close, Juniper Hill, Flackwell Heath, just south-west of Beaconsfield, Bucks. HP10 9JQ. This large squat tower overflowed in 2011 threatening to flood local properties. It has subsequently been the subject of planning enquiries to turn it into a residential facility. Apparently in 1914 the Boy Scouts had to guard it, in case the German agents poisoned the water supply. Grid. Ref. 90346 89176 11 Flackwell Heath 1 & 2  CLIVEDEN WATER TOWER (08BU12) South Bucks, near Maidenhead. This tower supplied water to the Cliveden Estate from 1861 to 1968. Thereafter it remained a key landmark in the estate but as a clock tower. It is about 20 meters high and drew water from below ground at White Place Farm nearby, until the Estate was connected to the mains supply. Cliveden is now a National Trust property with organised opening times. When looking at the south side of the main building the tower is to the left. Grid. Ref. SU 9111 8527. 13 Wooburn Green - could not find. 14 Yew Tree, Farnham Common - could not find.  COLESHILL WATER TOWER (08BU15) This lies at the end of Tower Road, just off the Amersham Road A355, on the eastern side of the village of Coleshill, south of Amersham. It was built by German prisoners during World War 1, to provide water for the nearby town of Amersham. It is now residential, albeit a stunning brick tower, is 30 metres high with a rather rusty tank on top. Grid. Ref. 958958. 16 Gerrards Cross GONE  BULBOURNE WATER TOWER (08BU17) Just north of Tring. This tower lies on the edge of the Grand Union Canal and was obviously part of a former servicing facility for commercial traffic using the canal. Dated mid 19th century, it was later converted to a water tower. Today we see it as a charming building facilitating pleasure traffic. It is Grade II listed. Grid. Ref. 93284 13730. 18 Beaconsfield Grange GONE   STOKENCHURCH WATER TOWER (08BU19) High Wycombe, Bucks. HP14 3TH. Located near the border with Oxfordshire. The picture, accessed by clicking left, dates from around 1930. It was subsequently demolished as part of a military exercise. The site is right in the middle of the village, on the A40, just a few yards from what is now the Kings Hotel, but now in a pitiful state as it was burned down about 2020. 
CASTLETHORPE WATER TOWER (08BU20) This rusty, all metal, tower is located on the southern side of Castlethorpe, alongside the railway. A recently refurbished pathway alongside the south-western side of the railway leads past it. Castlethorpe is a village in the north of Buckinghamshire, north-west of Milton Keynes. The path renovation, giving enhanced access, was carried out by Sustrans and Milton Keynes Council. Sustrans is a charity that campaigns and secures funding to create healthier and happier places for walking, wheeling or cycling. The tower is believed to be a redundant water tower and comprises a circular tank from top to bottom. Grid Ref. 79 44. To continue your voyage of discovery click right.
Bedfordshire  HEATH AND REACH WATER TOWER (08BE01) Eastern Way, Heath and Reach, just north of Leighton Buzzard, Grid Ref. 932283. The tower lies to the east of the village and the ridge on which it lies is noted for its Bronze Age ring ditch. 2 Leighton Buzzard GONE 3 Poddington GONE 4 Turvey - lies in woods by the car park on the A428 2 miles east of Turvey and is not accessible.  RIDGMONT WATER TOWER (08BE05) Eversholt Road in the Ridgmont village centre between and behind the church and the school. Built in 1913 it is Grade II listed. Located about 5 miles north of Woburn, just south of the M1 motorway near junction 13. Grid Ref. 975359. 6 Toddington GONE 7 Houghton Regis GONE  ISLE OF WIGHT WATER TOWER (08BE08) Whipsnade, LU6 3PP. Near S.W. Dunstable. Situated just north-west of Isle of Wight Farm and about a mile north of Whipsnade village and Zoo. Grid Ref. 013194. 9 Periwinkle Lane, Dunstable GONE  MILTON ERNEST WATER TOWER (08BE10) Technology Park. This tower lies north-west of Bedford near the village of Milton Ernest. It is located on the road to Thurleigh about half a mile out of Milton Ernest to the north-east. Grid Ref. 030568. It stand about 800 feet from its original location having been moved in the 1950s. Originally built in the mid 1930s, it supplied Bedfordshire villages. It weighs 2000 tons and is 89 feet high. The plan to move it was considered more cost effective than a complete rebuild. A heavy duty track was laid and the tower was shifted about 50 feet each day - some feat for the early 1950s! This freed-up the original site for a wind tunnel built in connection with Thurleigh Airfield. Two ground reservoirs are adjacent.  SUNDON PARK WATER TOWER (08BE11) Best viewed from Southampton Gardens, Luton. LU3 3UA. This Modernist Water tower lies on the edge of the Marsh Farm Housing Estate. A neighbour indicated that she had lived in the locality since before it was built, around 1970.  PULLOXHILL WATER TOWER (08BE12) Pulloxhill lies midway between Luton and Bedford. The tower lies at the southern end of this historic village. Grid Ref. 0602 3359. The tower is a prominent landmark in the village since being supposedly built in the 19th century by Gustav Halmhuber, although its structure looks more recent. It has provided water to the area since construction and is still in use today. 13 Haynes GONE  RAVENSDEN WATER TOWER (08BE14) Sunderland Hill, This stunning tower can be seen for many miles around and is located about one mile north of Ravensden, north of Bedford. It was built in 1951. Grid Ref. 0741 5577. It holds 100,000 gallons of water and is over 100 feet high. 15 Slip End GONE  BAILEY HILL WATER TOWER (08BE16) 30 West Hill Road, LU1 3LY. Bailey Hill, Luton. This tower is one of a small number that make Luton legendry for its water towers. Built in 1901, it is operated by Affinity Water, the local water company with 36m customers. It holds 38,000 pounds of water and is 100 feet high.  RENHOLD WATER TOWER (08BE17) Great Early Grove Wood, Wood Lane, Top End, Renhold, a village which lies on the north-east side of Bedford. A lane branches north opposite Top End Farm, quite near the church, but is private property and a cul-de-sac. The tower lies near the entrance to the lane in the woodland on the eastern side. The tower is believed to date from about 1907 and is of iron construction.  HART LANE WATER TOWER (08BE18) LG2 0JG, Luton. This tower is one of a small number that make Luton legendry for its water towers. It lies north-east of the town centre and is a listed building. Grid Ref. 10054 22080. It is operated by Affinity Water.  MEPPERSHALL WATER TOWER (08BE19 Near Upper Stondon, Beds. This prominent landmark lies just south of Meppershall village. Grid Ref 145358. It was constructed in 1949/50.  TOPLERS HILL TOWER, (08BE20) Edworth, Beds. (08BE20) Located on the junction of the A1T just south of Biggleswade and the Langford Lane West near Edworth. Grid Ref. 216402.  POTTON TOWER, (08BE21) 25 Hatley Rd, Potton, SG19 2EA, just south of Potton Wood; 2 miles east of Potton and about 5 miles north-east of Biggleswade. Grid Ref. 247495. This 3 storey water tower is now residential. It was built in the mid 20th century, although there are two versions of its origin. The first suggests that it was built by US forces during World War II. The alternative is that it was built by the Bedfordshire Water Board in 1957, perhaps as a replacement for an earlier tower? A plaque on the tower confirms the 1957 date. We would welcome further guidance on this. 
 CRANFIELD UNIVERSTY WATER TOWER (08BE22) Cranfield lies abut 10 miles south-west of Bedford. where it sports a major University alongside the local airfield. There are two towers on the campus and not being sure which one is the water tower we have put both on this web site. A National Research facility for water and waste water has been located on this site. 23 Bromham Hospital GONE 24 Vauxhall, Dunstable GONE 25 Laportes, Luton GONE  CHICKSANDS WATER TOWER, (08BE26) Chicksands Military Base entrance on the A507 south of Chickands and east of Shefford. Opposite the road to the south to Campton. SG 17 5QB. A substantial iron frame with tank. Grid Ref 127 388. This military site is due to close in 2030. 
The above illustration is a water tower recently spotted in Japan, albeit precise location is Tarumi, Kobe. REGION England - Central, WATER TOWER INTEREST |
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