Historic water tower wins 'breathtaking' £8m grant

Colchester's Balkerne Water Tower is known as "Jumbo"

The largest municipal water tower in England has been given a "breathtaking" £8m grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The structure, known as "Jumbo", has been a fixture of the Colchester skyline since 1883, but has been on the buildings at risk register for the last 30 years.

Simon Hall, chair of North Essex Heritage, the site's leaseholders, said the grant would enable the "unique piece of industrial heritage" to be saved.

It will also be used to make the 40m (131ft) tower fully accessible to the public for the first time as a heritage and events space.

The tower was built using 1.2 million locally made bricks

Irene Kettle, from North Essex Heritage, said she "screamed" when she heard the grant application had been successful

"This breathtaking support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund is a game-changer for our project and our city," Mr Hall said.

The fund has been running for 30 years and invests in projects across the UK to care for and preserve buildings.

Irene Kettle, a volunteer with North Essex Heritage, said the group had been "overwhelmed" when it learned the grant application had been successful.

"Jumbo is such a loved building in Colchester, but to receive this money as a vote of confidence in the city is brilliant," she said.

"From today, which is also Heritage Treasures Day, the future of [Jumbo] has been secured thanks to the National Lottery Heritage Fund and lottery players."

The former water tank will be restored and improved - it is hoped that it will be used year-round as a commercially viable and accessible heritage and events venue

The tower, which was completed only a year before being damaged in an earthquake in 1884, could hold up to 1,000 tonnes of water when it was in use.

It was used for its original purpose until 1984 and has been empty ever since.

North Essex Heritage said it needed urgent repairs to its cast iron water tank as well as other restoration.

The work is expected to take several years to complete.

"Jumbo" is currently home to 157 steps - and an additional flight of cast-iron stairs leads to the lantern room at the top of the building