Description

GRIMSBY

TA2711SE ROYAL DOCK, The Docks
699-1/5/129 The Dock Tower
28/04/72

GV I

Hydraulic tower. 1851-2 by JW Wild for The Grimsby Dock
Company. Red brick with limestone ashlar plinth and ashlar cap
with iron lantern. Modelled on the Palazzo Publico at Sienna,
with an oriental-style minaret.
EXTERIOR: square section, approx 94m tall. 3 stages. Tall main
stage has rock-faced rusticated plinth, recessed board door to
east side beneath rubbed-brick arch, 6 tiers of 3 tall slit
lights to each side. Brass memorial plaque to west side
inscribed "1939 A TRIBUTE TO THOSE WHO SWEPT THE SEAS 1949".
Stepped brick and ashlar string course. Splayed-out top
section above with deep imitation machicolations and tall
parapet with brick-coped pointed arched crenellations. Next
stage is a smaller version of the lower stage with a single
tier of 2 slit-lights to each side and a similar crenellated
head. Above this, a short octagonal stage with a round-headed
door to the balcony. Moulded cap with tall octagonal iron
lantern crowned by an openwork spire and finial. Contains
hydraulic gear which originally operated the gates to the
adjacent east and west locks (qv), and dockside cranes.
INTERIOR: not inspected.
HISTORY: this is the largest and architecturally most
distinguished hydraulic tower in the UK. The tower is one of
William Armstrong's earliest applications of hydraulic power,
and is believed to be the only hydraulics system of its type
to be built. It is important as a representative of the first
stage of hydraulic-power technology which operated on low
pressure, with the pressure being gained through height, from
an elevated water tank. It was superseded in 1892 by the
high-pressure hydraulic accumulator tower which stands nearby
to the west (qv). Together the 2 towers form a unique and
important survival of early hydraulic systems.
The tower is also a major landmark and seamark.
(The Buildings of England: Pevsner N, Harris J, Antram N:
Lincolnshire: 1989: p343: London; Institute of Civil
Engineers: Civil Engineering Heritage: Labrum EA: Eastern and
Central England: London: 1994-: 52-4; A guide to the
Industrial Archaeology of Lincolnshire & S.Humbs: Wright NR:
Lincoln: 1983-: 16-18; University of Hull Publications:
Gillett E: A History of Grimsby: London: 1970-: 214-5; Ambler
RW: Great Grimsby Fishing Heritage: a brief for a trail:

Grimsby Borough Council: 1990-: 17-18, 20-22; Grimsby Borough
Planning Department: Action for Conservation: 1972-: NO.100).

Listing NGR: TA2784411348

This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Register. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 23 January 2017.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Grimsby Dock Tower at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q5609325

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Sussex: West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Hampshire: Winchester and the North (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Yorkshire: York and the East Riding (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Hertfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Specifications for Building Conservation: Volume 1: External Structure: Practical Examples v. 2
• 
  Building Small Projects (New Best of Fine Woodworking)