Victorian water tower receives fresh funding boost

Jumbo could hold up to 1,000 tonnes of water when it was in use

England's largest municipal water tower has received extra funding to help secure its future.

The 40m-tall (130ft) tall structure, known as "Jumbo", has towered above Colchester High Street since 1883 but has been on the at-risk register for the past 30 years.

Historic England announced the latest funding of £550,000 on Wednesday.

Simon Hall, chair of North Essex Heritage, the site's leaseholders, said a "fantastic, accessible heritage asset" was being created for the city.

It has already received an £8m grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and £1.1m from the government amid plans to reopen it as a destination venue.

Cracks have emerged on the historic tower's water tank

The Grade II* listed tower was built using about 1.25 million bricks and 142 tonnes of iron in 1882.

It opened a year later, providing Colchester with reliable, clean water for more than a century until 1984.

Jumbo has stood empty since then, suffering what volunteers said was "significant deterioration".

Cracks have emerged on its cast iron water tank and roof leaks have led to timber decay.

North Essex Heritage secured a 150-year lease for the building in December 2021 and outlined plans to reopen it as a heritage and events venue.

It is hoped Jumbo will boost Colchester's economy when it reopens as a tourist attraction

Mr Hall said the latest funding "significantly closes the gap" in paying for the restoration project, which is expected to take several years to complete.

"It will provide Colchester with a fantastic accessible heritage asset, adding to Colchester's attraction as a city and tourist destination," he said.

Tony Calladine, from Historic England, added that the revitalised tower would boost the city's economy "for years to come".