Grimsby Dock Tower
Grimsby Dock Tower is a hydraulic
History and design
The tower was built to provide water pressure to power the hydraulic machinery (for cranes, lock gates and sluices) at the Grimsby Docks. The tower was built to carry a tank 200 feet (61 m) above the ground with a direct feed into the machinery. Small pumps topped up the tank as the hydraulic machinery drew off water. The tower system was brought into use in 1852 working the machinery of the lock gates, dry-docks and fifteen quayside cranes, and also to supply fresh water to ships and the dwelling houses on the dock premises. The water was obtained from a well, 15 ft (4.6 m) in diameter and 47 ft (14 m) deep, with a boring of 5 in (130 mm) in diameter to the chalk rock in the centre, situated near to where the
Water was conveyed from the well to the tower in a cast-iron pipe thirteen inches in diameter when it was then forced into the tank by two force pumps, each of ten inches in diameter, worked by a duplicate, horizontal engine of twenty-five horse power. All the engines, pumps and pipes and the whole of the machinery were made by Mr Mitchell of the
During the building of the tower,
Architectural design, construction and opening
The tower was designed by James William Wild who based its appearance on that of the Torre del Mangia on the Palazzo Pubblico in Siena. It was built under the supervision of J. M. Rendel, who was the civil engineer in charge of construction of the Royal Dock.
The ground floor of the tower was lined with pink, white and blue drapery when
The tower is 309 feet (94 m) high, 28 feet (8.5 m) wide at the base, and tapers gradually to 26 feet (7.9 m) below the first projection; its walls are 4 feet (1.2 m) thick and narrow to 3 feet (0.91 m) at the
Local legend has it that the tower was built on a foundation of cotton wool; the story likely has its origins in the profitable import of cotton to West Yorkshire which gave an impetus to the building of the Royal Dock and the tower.[2]
Later use
The Dock Tower continued to provide water for hydraulic working until 1892 when the erection of the hydraulic accumulator tower on the opposite pier approximately 200 feet (61 m) to the North West of the Dock Tower took over - water in this structure was pressurised by a 300-tonne weight. Present dock and lock machinery are powered by electric or electro-hydraulic energy.
During the
The tower's lift is no longer in operation with access to the top via a spiral staircase in one corner of the building. The second balcony is currently used for the transmission and reception of radio signals.
The tower is
Model
There is a model of the Grimsby Dock Tower entirely constructed of
See also
- Joseph Chamberlain Memorial Clock Tower, also based on the Torre del Mangia
- Hydraulic engine house, Bristol Harbour
References
- ISBN 0-85263-751-9.
- ^ "Local Landmarks - The Dock Tower". North East Lincolnshire Council. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
- ^ Historic England. "The Dock Tower (1379870)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 11 January 2017.