Sir Robert McAlpine to restore England’s largest surviving Victorian water tower

Construction of the Balkerne Water Tower in Colchester, known locally as ‘Jumbo’ started in 1882 (Image courtesy of Sir Robert McAlpine)

The firm’s Special Projects division has won a contract with North Essex Heritage for the work on the Balkerne Water Tower in Colchester, which is known locally as ‘Jumbo’.

The Grade II-listed building was decommissioned in 1984 and after works are completed, it will become fully accessible to visitors.

Construction of the tower dates back to 1882 and it was built using about 1.25 million bricks and about 142 tonnes of cast iron.

Pre-construction work will start in early July 2025, with main construction starting in December 2025.

The project is receiving backing from UK Government Funding, Colchester City Council, Historic England, and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Mike Coleman, operations director, Sir Robert McAlpine Special Projects, said, “We are delighted to have been appointed to help bring a much-loved asset of industrial heritage and part of Colchester’s rich history back into public use for the residents and visitors.

“Our team will be able to call upon years of experience in the heritage sector, leveraging traditional skills to retain the tower’s charm and character while bringing it up to the standards required of a modern-day attraction.”