Water Tower, Chester, Historic tower museum in Chester, England.
The Water Tower is a circular sandstone structure approximately 75 feet (23 meters) tall with a square turret on top and a spiral staircase leading to upper chambers.
Built between 1322 and 1325 as the New Tower, the structure originally defended Chester's port and monitored shipping on the River Dee to ensure payment of customs duties.
Since August 2016, the tower has housed a museum dedicated to medical history called Sick to Death, combining heritage preservation with educational displays about historical medicine and health practices.
The museum is open Tuesday and Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Thursday through Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at 1 Tower Road, Chester CH1 4JA.
Originally standing in the River Dee itself, the tower became landlocked over centuries as the river silted up, leaving it about 200 yards (183 meters) inland from the former riverbank.
Location: Cheshire West and Chester
Address: 1 Tower Rd, Chester CH1 4JA, UK CH1 4JA
Opening Hours: Tuesday-Wednesday 10:00-15:00; Thursday-Sunday 10:00-16:00
Phone: +441244348439
Website: http://chestertourist.com/watertower.htm
GPS coordinates: 53.19261,-2.89957
Latest update: November 28, 2025 15:41
Water towers are critical engineering structures that ensure the storage and distribution of drinking water in urban and rural areas. Over decades, these structures have evolved far beyond their utilitarian role to become notable architectural elements. This collection includes diverse examples around the world, from the Trelleborg water tower in Sweden, built in 1912 and reaching 58 meters (approximately 190 feet), to the El Aguila Water Tower in Madrid, a former brewery converted into a cultural venue. Each structure reflects the techniques and aesthetic trends of its time. The Svaneke water tower in Denmark, designed by architect Jørn Utzon in 1952, exemplifies modern Scandinavian design with geometric forms and white concrete. In Gaffney, South Carolina, the Peachoid surprises with its giant peach appearance, while the Torre del Agua in Zaragoza demonstrates contemporary possibilities with its 76-meter (about 249 feet) glass façade, constructed for Expo 2008. The Vukovar water tower in Croatia bears marks of history, with walls riddled with over 600 shell impacts, testifying to the conflict of 1991.
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