Grimsby Dock Tower

This impressive structure is 309 feet high and was built around 1850 to power the hydraulic machinery that was used at the docks.  The tower has a tank 200 feet above the ground with a direct feed into the machinery. Small pumps topped up the tank with water drawn from a well as the hydraulic machinery drew off water. The tower system was brought into use in 1852 working the machinery of the lock gates, dry-docks and fifteen quayside cranes, and also to supply fresh water to ships and the dwelling houses on the dock premises.

It was designed by James Wild who based its appearance on the Torre del Manoia in Siena and was opened by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1854.  As we sat in the pub with some Grimsby fans yesterday, they were telling us that the technology had developed so quickly that a new, smaller and much more efficient tower had been built only a couple of years after this one had been finished.  They kept it going until 1892, but it was pretty quickly made redundant.

The Mariners fans were also telling us that it caused huge problems during the second world war as it was a beacon for the German Luftwaffe as the headed over to bomb Liverpool.  Fortunately it survived, but we spent a frustrating 45 minutes trying to get close to it in order to take a photo.  Every time we thought we were getting close it seemed to move behind us, so this was the best I got.