OAKES WATER TOWER - NORTON SHEFFIELD
The following is taken from a leaflet I kept from a visit
to the Norton water tower in the mid 1970's. At the time, I was living in the
Greenhill- Bradway area of Sheffield. I think the visit was to do with a course
I was doing at Sheffield Polytechnic but I can't be sure on that one. The one
regret I do have though is not taking a camera
"This landmark on the City's Southern skyline at the junction of Hemsworth Road
and Norton Lane was built at a cost of approximately £90,000 to provide an
adequate supply of water in the Norton Area where there are about ten thousand
dwellings including the large housing estates in the Gleadless Valley. The Tower
was officially opened by the Lord Mayor of Sheffield (Alderman J. W. Sterland,
M.B.E., J.P.) on the 12th July, 1961.
The entire structure which has a diameter of 64 ft. at the base and a height of
109 ft. is built of reinforced concrete. The water tank is supported by a series
of twenty-six columns 53 ft. high. It has a diameter of 60 ft., a depth of 18
ft. and a capacity of 300,000 gallons with a top water level of 828 ft.
Originally the Norton area was entirely supplied by water from Redmires, via
Ringinglow, by gravitation, but the increasing demand particularly at peak
draw-off periods, made it necessary to provide a supplementary supply. The
additional supply is drawn from Rivelin, the water being pumped through Norton
Lees Pumping Station. When the Redmires, water proves inadequate an electrically
controlled automatic valve on the Ringinglow, main closes that supply and the
area is fed from water in the Tower.
As this falls to a certain level, the pumps in the basement automatically come
into operation to refill the tank with water from Rivelin until such time as the
Redmires, supply again becomes available as it normally is during the night
period.
At the top of the Tower an observatory with an open gallery affords on a clear
day a fine panoramic view of the City and countryside for miles around. A lift
is provided for easy access to the gallery.
The Yorkshire Water Authority hopes the public will avail itself of the
opportunity to visit this Tower and appeals for its co-operation in preventing
any damage to Waterworks property and equipment in or around the building.
All enquiries to be made to :-
G. T. CALDER, B.SC., F.I.C.E., F.I.W.E., Division Director,
Yorkshire Water Authority,
Southern Division,
Castle Market Building,
Exchange Street,
Sheffield
S1 1GB
('Phone: 26421, Extn. 5).
THE OAKS WATER TOWER will be open to the public during 1975 from 2.00 p.m. until
dusk
on the following days:-
Easter Weekend
Friday 28th March to Tuesday 1st April
Spring Holiday Weekend
Saturday 24th May to Tuesday 27th May
Know your Sheffield Week
Saturday 5th July to Sunday 13th July
Sheffield Holiday Weeks
Saturday, 19th July to Sunday, 10th August
Late Summer Bank Holiday
Saturday 23rd August to Monday 25th August
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Special arrangements can also be made for organised parties on application
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Public Transport available as follows:-
Nos. 2 & 59 – Outer Circle
Nos. 20 & 33 – Hemsworth
Nos. 34 & 38 – Graves Park – Norton
No. 43 - Jordanthorpe
This page was last updated on 26/07/10 13:31