Water Towers
 
     
 

1886
The Southwold Water Works Company - The company is founded this year. One of its first Secretaries is Southwold's Town Clerk, Solicitor, Ernest Read Cooper who practises at the Company's Registered Office, No 1 Market Place. Work started this year on building the water tower which is about 40 ft high.. The tank has a capacity of 40,000 gallons and is surmounted by a wind pump which draws water from a well, initially of some 60 ft deep. The use of wind-power on a watertower is an innovative idea in its day.

Over the following few years, water from the tower is piped to homes and businesses across a large part of the town, gradually replacing Southwold's many domestic wells and the communal Town Pump in the Market Place built 13 years earlier by the Child Foundry.

1899
On February 14 this year, the resident caretaker and engineer, George Neller (aged 39) is crushed to death when his coat gets caught in the pumping mechanism on the third floor. He leaves a wife, Jane and 10 year old son, Walter.


1905
The Southwold Water Works Company - As demand increases and the water table is lowered, it is found that the water pumped from deeper seams contains large amounts of chlorine and traces of organic material, suggesting marine infiltration. The well is no longer considered suitable for potable use, though water from it is continued to be used for sanitary and fire service applications. The wind pump is probably removed at about this date. Potable water has increasingly been sourced from various tube wells in Reydon and, at about this time, a new pumping station is built in Quay Lane, Reydon.


 

 

 

1924
The Southwold Water Works Company - Secretary is now Lenny Septimus Harrisson, Solicitor at No 1 Market Place.


 

1937
The Southwold Water Works Company - A second water tower is built adjacent to the defunct one. It has a capacity of 150,000 gallons,, nearly four times that of the old tower. Although the old tower is scheduled for demolition, it is spared and preserved following public demonstrations.

 

 

 

1964
The East Anglian Water Company - takes over The Southwold Water Works Company this year.

 

 

 
 
 

1991
The old water tower is Grade II Listed.

 
 

2005
Richard & Wendy Pither and James Ellis - trading as "Suffolk Secrets", a holiday property letting company, purchase a 21-year lease from Southwold Town Council, on the lower two floors of the old tower, later increasing this to three floors, for use as offices.

   

Do you have any memories or records about this address? Can you correct any of our information or fill in any of our blanks? If so, please email Barry Tolfree
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SOURCES:
BSD - Bernard Segrave-Daly
BCS = Bygones & Characters of Southwold by Barrett Jenkins
C = Census
CP = Cinema Programme 1958
CSP = Coronation Souvenir Programme 1953
G = Gales Trade Directory
GRO = General Register Office
K = Kelly's Directory
LM = Local memory
M = James Maggs' Southwold Diary 1818-1876
MCG = Methodist Church Guide 1930
NA = National Archives
PP = Pantomime Programme 1933
PLR = Petrol Licence Records

POD = Post Office Directory
PPP = Pier Pavilion Programme 1924, 1926
RCE = Rotary Club Exhibition 1969
SCM = Southwold Catholic Magazine 1923
SCTG = Southwold Corporation Tourist Guide
SER = Southwold Electoral Register
SFP = Southwold Scouts Fete Programme 1947
SG = Southwold Guide
SGCH = Southwold Golf Club Handbook
SLHR = Southwold Local History Recorder 1980s 1990s (Mrs R. McDermot)
SMHS = Southwold Museum & Historical Society

SN = Southwold & Neighbourhood 1903
SPM = Southwold Parish Magazine 1895 -1954
SR = Southwold Recorder 1927, 1932, 1934, 1935
SRB = Southwold Rate Book
SRT = Southwold Railway Timetable 1915
SSAS = Southwold Sea Angling Society Handbook 1909
SST = Southwold Summer Theatre Programmes
SSW = Southwold Shopping Week Programme, June/July 1922
STG = Southwold Town Guide 1930
SVL = Southwold Visitors List 1907, 1930
SVCP = Southwold Victory Celebration Programme 1946
SWCG = Southwold Wesleyan Church Guide

TTR = 'The Town Revisited' - Portraits of Southwold by Stephen Wolfenden 2000
TTT = ''To The Town' - Portraits of Southwold by Stephen Wolfenden 1988
W = White’s History, Gazetteer and Directory of Suffolk 1874

 
Note on dates
Unless otherwise stated, dates given do not indicate the years in which the business started or finished but those for which there is firm evidence that it was trading at this address. Sources in brackets; key at bottom of page.



The Old Water Tower with wind pump still intact, - part of a photograph taken in about 1900

Southwold Museum P1038.

To see an enlargement and a copy of the full image, click the picture.