Bedworth Water Tower
People who drive past Bedworth on the A444 bypass often wonder about the origins of this tower
The former water tower at Bedworth in Warwickshire, England undoubtedly the most noticeable landmark in the town. It was built in 1898 (completed 1900) in the Romanesque style of architecture which was fashionable at the time. It is approximately 148 ft high and it is visible from miles around. It is 14 storeys high and built in brick with a pyramidal clay tile roof. Currently it is surrounded by recent housing developments and from a distance the tower looks very ecclesiastical. It was protected as a Grade II listed building in 1987. A large framed panel above the door reads “BEDWORTH WATER WORKS 1898”
Originally the water was extracted from a 275ft deep bore hole on site but the water supply was supplemented by water pumped up 1500ft from the workings of Newdigate Colliery. Supply of water from coal mine drainage was quite common in the UK and the mine water was often considered better quality than that from shallower supplies. The tower originally had a 60,000 gallon water tank, but became obsolete in 1988, when a new water main was installed into Bedworth, taking water from reservoirs in Wales
Since 1998 the tower has been the home to a pair of peregrine falcons. In 2015 it was sold to be converted into six luxury apartments but delays mean that in 2024 the conversion process was still under way.
Know Before You Go
The tower is within a gated compound which encloses a private housing development. However the gates seem to be rarely closed in daylight hours.
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