Central Hydraulic Tower Explained

Central Hydraulic Tower
Location:Great Float, Birkenhead, England
Coordinates:53.4013°N -3.0218°W
Owner:Peel Ports
Completion Date:1868
Architect:J. B. Hartley

Central Hydraulic Tower is a Grade II listed building situated in Birkenhead, England. It was designed by J. B. Hartley to provide the necessary power to move the bridges and lock gates at the adjacent Birkenhead Docks. The building design was based on the Palazzo Vecchio town hall situated in the Piazza della Signoria, Florence, Italy. Currently disused, the building is planned to be used as a Maritime Knowledge Hub as part of the Wirral Waters development scheme.[1]

History

During the Second World War, the building and 110feet tall tower were considerably damaged by aerial bombing but and were later repaired in a more functional instead of architectural style. The large lantern that was once situated at the top of the tower was not replaced.[2] The building is now disused and in a dilapidated condition.[3]

As part of the Wirral Waters development, a new plan for the site was completed in March 2008 for a £12 million redevelopment and restoration of the building by Peel Holdings for it to be converted into a restaurant and bar. A hotel complex with 92 rooms was planned to be constructed immediately adjacent to it. These plans never came to fruition and in September 2015 it was announced that the tower would become part of a £30 million advanced manufacturing and engineering skills centre.[4] Known as the 'Hydraulic Tower and Generator Project', owners Peel intend to create 90000square feet of space for offices and workspaces for small to medium fast-growing businesses.[5]

In March 2021, it was announced that the building would be brought back in to use as The Maritime Knowledge Hub and will be a national base for marine engineering research and development and survival training, as well as providing business accelerator space for the maritime sector. The project will cost £23m.[6] Planning permission was granted in May 2023, with work hoping to be started in mid-2023.[7] [8] [9] However, work did not commence in 2023 and in November it was announced the project was on hold due to rising costs.[10]

Wirral Council announced in July 2024 that they would no longer be moving ahead with the scheme, stating they the council could no longer afford their proposed contribution to the project.[11]

Description

Historic England describes the building as being three storeys, made of brick with rock-faced stone dressings.[12] The boiler room was originally home to six boilers, while two engines pumped steam through the system in another room.

See also

References

Sources

Notes and References

  1. News: Barnes . Ed . A last look inside Birkenhead's Central Hydraulic Tower before it's redeveloped . 7 March 2023 . Wirral Globe . en.
  2. Web site: A 1920s photograph of Jesse Hartley's Hydraulic Tower from the East Float. Wyre Heal: A Local History of the Wirral Peninsula. https://web.archive.org/web/20110531125712/http://homepage.ntlworld.com/angela.wood850/Wyre%20Heal%20eBook/11%20-%20Wallasey%20Pool/11-Wallasey%20Pool.htm. 31 May 2011.
  3. Web site: Central Hydraulic Tower. 28 Days Later. 13 October 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20071230194935/http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andys.f/cht.htm. 30 December 2007.
  4. Web site: McDonough. Tony. Wirral Victorian docklands tower to be turned into £30m engineering skills centre. Liverpool Echo. 11 January 2017. 9 September 2015.
  5. Web site: Hydraulic Tower – Wirral Waters. Wirral Waters. 11 January 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170113142437/http://www.wirralwaters.co.uk/projects/hydraulic-tower/. 13 January 2017. dead. dmy-all.
  6. Web site: Ambitious plans agreed for Wirral landmark . . 5 March 2021 . Birkenhead News . 26 May 2021 .
  7. News: Plans for Wirral Waters 'world class' maritime knowledge hub submitted to council . 7 March 2023 . Wirral Globe . en.
  8. News: A last look inside Birkenhead's Central Hydraulic Tower before it's redeveloped . 7 March 2023 . Wirral Globe . en.
  9. News: Barnes . Ed . £25m Wirral Waters project gets greenlight along with new homes . 26 May 2023 . Wirral Globe . 23 May 2023 . en.
  10. News: Original plans for £25m Birkenhead project 'unviable' due to Liz Truss premiership . 18 November 2023 . Wirral Globe . 16 November 2023 . en.
  11. News: 'We simply can’t afford it' - Talks will end on major £21m waterfront project . Wirral Globe . 17 July 2024 . en.
  12. Web site: HYDRAULIC GENERATING STATION, Non Civil Parish – 1258186 Historic England . historicengland.org.uk . 7 March 2023 . en.