Jumbo Water Tower

Jumbo Water Tower is a Victorian water supply building made of red brick at Balkerne Gate in Colchester, standing approximately 40 meters tall. It features a cast-iron water tank and was constructed using about 1.2 million bricks to serve the town's water needs.

The structure was completed in 1883 after a construction period of 20 months and served to supply clean water to Colchester residents. The red brick building represents a typical example of Victorian industrial infrastructure development.

The name comes from Jumbo, a famous circus elephant that Reverend John Irvine chose when opposing the building's construction near his rectory. The red brick structure remains a distinctive landmark in the town's streetscape.

The building is located at Balkerne Gate in central Colchester and is easy to reach on foot. North Essex Heritage currently maintains the structure and is developing plans that aim to improve public access to the site.

The water tank inside required about 820 tons of stone and cement, making it the largest Victorian water tower in England. This remarkable amount of material demonstrates the scale of Victorian infrastructure ambition.

Location: Colchester

Inception: September 27, 1883

Height: 40.1 m

Website: https://savejumbo.org.uk

GPS coordinates: 51.88960,0.89510

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:41