WATER TOWER AT TURRIS HEAH, MILL LANE

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Overview

Water tower, c1870, built by Thomas Melling, red sandstone with ashlar dressings, flat cast-iron roof, 2-storeys with Italianate detailing. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1394600
Date first listed:: 15-Oct-2010
List Entry Name:: WATER TOWER AT TURRIS HEAH, MILL LANE
Statutory Address:: WATER TOWER AT TURRIS HEAH, MILL LANE

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1394600
Date first listed:: 15-Oct-2010
Date of most recent amendment:: 01-Sep-2011
List Entry Name:: WATER TOWER AT TURRIS HEAH, MILL LANE
Location Description:: Water Tower at Turris Heah, Mill Lane
Statutory Address 1:: WATER TOWER AT TURRIS HEAH, MILL LANE

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.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

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.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:: WATER TOWER AT TURRIS HEAH, MILL LANE

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

District:: St. Helens (Metropolitan Authority)
Parish:: Rainhill
National Grid Reference:: SJ 49300 90563

Summary

Water tower, c1870, built by Thomas Melling, red sandstone with ashlar dressings, flat cast-iron roof, 2-storeys with Italianate detailing.

Reasons for Designation

The water tower at Turris Heah, constructed in c1870 by Thomas Melling, a local entrepreneur, to provide water for the small township of Rainhill, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

* Architectural quality: It is a good and increasingly rare example of a relatively early, non-municipal water tower with a well-detailed design incorporating clear architectural treatment, including Italianate round-headed windows and door with relief ashlar surrounds * Historic interest: It has socio-historic interest in representing the development of settlements such as Rainhill from a village to a small township following the arrival of the railway in the mid C19 and the need for a clean public water supply for the increasing population

History

The water tower at Turris Heah is believed to have been constructed in c1870 after the land on which it is built was purchased by Thomas Melling, owner of an iron foundry and the Rainhill Gas and Water Works. The land was purchased from the Owen family of the Lawton estate who in 1866 granted Melling permission to lay pipes on the estate and to acquire a piece of land for the erection of a high level water tank to supply the local population of the township. The site was chosen as it was the highest point in the area and the stone for the building is believed to have been taken from a small quarry lying immediately adjacent to the north-east side.

The water tower (not annotated) appears on the 1st edition OS map published in 1892 and subsequent maps and its footprint remains unchanged. In 1926 the water tower was sold to Whiston Rural District Council and was sold again on the same day to Liverpool Corporation. It is not known when the tower ceased active use as a water supply.

Details

EXTERIOR: Square structure with ashlar quoining and shallow parapet, water tank and top section of tower removed. Main entrance to north-west elevation with wide, round-headed doorway with central keystone and imposts that continue as raised band around the building, timber door. Remaining ground floor elevations with slender, paired round-headed windows with relief ashlar surrounds incorporating keystones and imposts, plain glazing. Taller, tripartite round-headed windows in same style to first floor of each elevation with blind centre lights with a raised head, corbelled sill band to each set of windows.

INTERIOR: The interior is empty with ladder access to first floor and roof.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:: 509209
Legacy System:: LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Barton, B, Water Towers of Britain, (2003)
Dickinson, F, 'Transactions of the Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire Volume 121' in The Mellings of Rainhill 1830-70, (1970)

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.