Colchester skyline seen from Hilly Fields

"Public access" and "Appropriate use" What could this mean in practice? There have been many ideas, but no single obvious answer. One reason is that Jumbo was designed to hold water, not people. It was not intended to be a habitable building like a castle or stately home. Feasibility studies in 1996 and 1997 considered possible uses including commercial ones, but no single solution emerged. Opinion was also split about the possibility of obtaining grants for preservation or conversion. So what exactly do we want for Jumbo? The Future It would be necessary to start with a public access scheme only, and develop other uses only after people become familiar with the building and a consensus emerges. We have been researching one possible long-term idea: a Water Quest Centre about clean water as an achievement or aspiration of everyone on Earth, located in the atmospheric interior of the tank. Environmental and educational aspects would attract funding and bring visitors. It could become a national attraction for Colchester. Much would depend on the probability of obtaining grants, and the Architectural Heritage Fund lists many possible sources which have never been independently investigated. We have been preparing the ground to establish a Trust to buy Jumbo at the earliest opportunity, with support from the Council. There is a precedent because the local Theatre Action Trust obtained the old church hall in Chapel Street in this way. This work was unfortunately cut short by the Planning Inspector's decision to allow the locally rejected penthouse conversion of Jumbo.

Inside Jumbo 131 feet high 1,200,000 bricks Cast iron tank of 1000 tons capacity Cost £11,000 when built (1883) Tower by Everett & Sons Tank by A G Mumford, ironfounders (Colchester firms) One 16 inch & one 12 inch rising mains Two 12 inch outlet mains

Award winning new design Three architectural students at Anglia Polytechnic University have presented the only detailed proposal for Jumbo which both preserves the original tank and provides public uses for the building (pictures below and opposite). Adam Griggs, Paul Willey and Steven Higgon with drawing and model (Evening Gazette) Their project has already received the highest mark ever awarded to an Architectural unit at the University, and has been entered for the Philip Webb Award 2001 competition run by the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings. The design encloses the legs in glass, but set within deep reveals to retain the arches and legs as dominant features. This has enabled six main levels to be accomodated: Ground Floor - reception, tourist information centre, retail area First Floor - local studies unit Second Floor - cafe, arial views of the Colchester area Third Floor - conference facilities Tank interior - exhibition space, eg water museum, history of Jumbo Belvedere - viewing platform A glazed lift and extra spiral stairways are installed to provide fire escape and access to several toilet facilities. If you would like more details of this fascinating proposal, please contact the design team: Paul Willey or Steve Higgon or Adam Griggs

A vertical section showing the new levels One of the models A view from the top