Pumping Station, Whitacre Waterworks
The pumping station and reservoir originally belonged to the Water Department of the City of Birmingham, but now they are the responsibility of Severn Trent Water. The reservoir is a popular leisure site for sailing and walking.
Apart from the two clocks, the original pumping machinery and ancillaries have largely been dismantled and replaced with modern equipment. The site was largely extended in 1977 with new more modern works. It is believed to originally have contained two beam engines by James Watt, one of which is now on display in the Science Museum, Birmingham.
Notable features
The pumping station house is predominantly constructed in red brick with stone dressings, the roofs are generally pitched and tiled in clay, and the eaves decorated with modillion eaves and cornices. The Southeastern part of the building is prominent, with a tall gabled central part with 6 windows in the gable and 3 large gothic windows below. It is flanked by aisled constructions with apsidal ends and with semi-conical roofs. The southwestern end is also prominent, again with large gabled roof, with a semi-circular extension with semi-conical roof on the western end, and a circular corner turret with conical roof on the east. The northern part of the building comprises a large uninterrupted wing, with a longitudinal pitched roof with glazed rooflight ventilators, and seven smaller gabled roofs at right-angles to the main roof. There are many large gothic windows within the various facades.
References
- ^ Historic England. "Waterworks at Whitacre: Pumping Station, Filter House, Water Well and Superintendent's Office (1265889)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
- ^ "BBC Domesday Reloaded website". Retrieved 9 January 2016.
- ^ Heritage at Risk Register 2018, West Midlands (Report). Historic England. p. 41. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
- ^ "British listed buildings website". Retrieved 9 January 2016.