The Old Water Tower
THE OLD WATER TOWER, 12 AND 14, PURBECK TERRACE ROAD
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1153240
- Date first listed:
- 21-Mar-1983
- List Entry Name:
- The Old Water Tower
- Statutory Address:
- THE OLD WATER TOWER, 12 AND 14, PURBECK TERRACE ROAD
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2002-06-03
- Reference:
- IOE01/07074/05
- Rights:
- © Mr Martin Roberts. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1153240
- Date first listed:
- 21-Mar-1983
- List Entry Name:
- The Old Water Tower
- Statutory Address 1:
- THE OLD WATER TOWER, 12 AND 14, PURBECK TERRACE ROAD
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- THE OLD WATER TOWER, 12 AND 14, PURBECK TERRACE ROAD
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- Dorset (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Swanage
- National Grid Reference:
- SZ 03205 78194
Details
PURBECK TERRACE ROAD 1. 5190 Nos 12 and 14 SZ 0378 4/131 (The Old Water Tower) II
2. Dated 1886. Square Purbeck Stone structure in medieval military style. Three stages. The centre stage has 2 round-headed windows in the north and east faces. On the east face, between the windows, is a date stone - 1886. Above this, below the parapet, is a stone inscribed "239 ft above sea level". Immediately above this is a plain ashlar stone panel lettered "Swanage Water Works" - this is now rather faint. The top stage of the tower has 2 narrow slit windows in each face. The parapet is finished with battlements above a projecting string course. Circular projecting turret in one corner, with a seagull as weather vane. South of the tower and attached to it is a single-storey block, with Purbeck Stone walls and roof. The eaves gutters discharge into shaped stone chutes. Two round-headed windows in the south gable wall. In the east wall of this block are a large door opening and a segmental-headed window. No longer in use as a Water Tower.
Listing NGR: SZ0320578194
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 108258
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 12-Jun-2026 at 17:36:45.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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