Summary
A pump house built in 1925 for Tamworth Waterworks(later taken over by South Staffordshire Waterworks),excluding the surrounding detached brick water treatment structures.
Reasons for Designation
The early-C20 Hopwas Pump House,excluding the surrounding detached brick water treatment structures,is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
*Architectural interest:it has a strong stripped back design with classical elements that are enhanced by the contrasting use of brick and dressed stone;*Historic interest: it served as the principal water supply to the Tamworth Waterworks company;*Group value: the pump house forms an interesting group with the adjacent listed Grade II late-C19 former pumping station.
History
Tamworth Waterworks Joint Committee (TW) was formed in 1878, headed by Henry Marten, to facilitate the supply of uncontaminated water to Tamworth and the surrounding rural area. Hopwas Pumping Station was constructed in 1879 after Hopwas Wood was deemed to be the best quality water source in the area. Two fifty horse-power beam-condensing engines were installed by Messrs. Gimpson and Son of Leicester. Each engine had a brass plate; one inscribed 'WOODY' and the other 'SPRUCE', named in tribute to two members of the water board. To the east of the site were a complex of settling tanks (built over in 2004) and an attendant’s house (now in private ownership).
Details
A pump house built in 1925 for Tamworth Waterworks(later taken over by South Staffordshire Waterworks),excluding the surrounding detached brick water treatment structures.MATERIALS:English-bond red brick with sandstone dressings,and a slate roof with coped verges.PLAN:rectangular plan on a north-east alignment.EXTERIOR:a single-storey building with a basement.A single-bay gable-end entrance that has giant clasping rusticated pilasters,a decorative cornice and a pediment with oculus.A flight of steps leads up to a round-arched doorway with a C21 timber-plank door.It is surrounded by a moulded architrave and a large cartouche key bearing the foundation date of 1925.Above is a wide ashlar panel under the cornice inscribed TAMWORTH WATERWORKS.The side elevations have four bays articulated by pilasters and tall round-arched windows with glazing bars.The basement level has in-filled segmental-arch window openings.The rear elevation has clasping pilasters,an oculus within the gable and a C21 door within a brick-arch surround.INTERIOR:the Tanyge horizontal steam engine has been removed.The metal gantry crane supported on pilasters survives,as does the braced steel-truss roof.The rest of the hall is largely empty,with a suite of stud-partitioned offices to the rear.The modern plant work and control centre are not of special interest*.A flight of metal stairs leads down to the basements which contains the remains of the former engine tanks.There is also modern chlorine treatment machinery which is not of special interest*.The detached brick water treatment structures to the north and west of the building are excluded from the listing.
Sources
Books and journals Websites www.geograph.org.uk_photo_686619.pdf Other
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
The listed building(s) is/are shown coloured blue on the attached map. Pursuant to s.1 (5A) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 (‘the Act’), structures attached to or within the curtilage of the listed building (save those coloured blue on the map) are not to be treated as part of the listed building for the purposes of the Act.
End of official list entry
