82. Water Tower, 29/8/21.
This is the original octagonal watertower, built close to where the later tall tower with ‘REEDS’ on it was built. Old plans in the W&E dept files showed a ‘well’ close to this water tower, how this worked in relation to the later reservoir pumps was not clear. However if process water for the early machines was all that was required then a well tapping the 1 or 2 aquifers under the mill site may have sufficed. The later water tower would have provided greater head to supply the much greater water demand of the East, West, No3 and Wadding (KC) mills.
In the foreground is the standard gauge mill siding, connecting to the main line. Left background is the beaterhouse, with the view through the open door showing the end wall still to be constructed. Right background is a rather more substantial steam crane than previously seen, at work excavating the river bank for the wharf.
