Edgbaston Waterworks

Edgbaston Waterworks is a Grade II listed pumping station located east of Edgbaston Reservoir, roughly two miles from Birmingham's center. The facility comprises a Victorian-era engine house, boiler house, and chimney as its main structural components.

The station was constructed around 1870 by architects John Henry Chamberlain and William Martin during Birmingham's period of rapid urban growth. It was built to support the city's expanding water supply needs as the industrial population increased.

The towers of the site and nearby Perrott's Folly were landmarks in the childhood landscape of author J.R.R. Tolkien, who lived in the neighborhood. Such Victorian industrial buildings were woven into the local scenery that shaped the imagination of residents during that era.

The facility remains operational under Severn Trent Water management and continues to serve Birmingham's residential and commercial water supply needs. Visitors should note that the site may have restricted access in certain areas for safety and operational reasons.

The pumping station operates independently from the adjacent Edgbaston Reservoir despite being part of the same water infrastructure. The reservoir itself was originally designed to support the local canal network rather than serve as the primary source for residential water.