The Westgate Water Tower, also known as the Lincoln Water Tower is a historic water tower, dating to AD 1911. It is located on Westgate, in Lincoln, England.[1] It is a grade II listed building.[2]

Westgate Water Tower
Rectangular stone tower
Westgate water tower in 2013
Westgate Water Tower is located in Lincolnshire
Westgate Water Tower
Location within Lincolnshire
Alternative namesLincoln water tower
General information
TypeWater tower
Coordinates53°14′12″N 0°32′28″W / 53.236617°N 0.54106195°W / 53.236617; -0.54106195
Completed1911
Technical details
MaterialStone
Design and construction
Architect(s)Reginald Blomfield

History

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It was designed by Reginald Blomfield in the Baroque revival style.[2] The tower is square in plan and measures 117 feet (36 m) in height.[1] It was commissioned by the Lincoln Corporation in response to an outbreak of typhoid in the city in 1904-1905 which killed 113 people and drew water from the reservoir at Bracebridge Heath rather than from the polluted supplies at Hartsholme Lake and the River Witham.[3]

The tank inside the tower measures 15.9 metres (52 ft) in diameter and can hold 1.356 million litres of water. It is still in use and is operated by Anglian Water.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Weird and wonderful Lincolnshire towers that are dotted around the county". Lincolnshire Live. 27 June 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  2. ^ a b Historic England. "WATER TOWER (1388494)". National Heritage List for England.
  3. ^ a b "The secret history of Lincoln's lofty water tower built after city's typhoid epidemic". Lincolnshire Live. 19 June 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.