Introduction
An exploring friend on Facebook visited this earlier this year and he kindly provided me with some information about it and I finally had a chance to check it out after being in the area for the 28 Days Later meet.
Information & History
Located in close proximity to Dowdeswell Reservoir, the Cheltenham Corporation Waterworks was constructed in 1925 to supply the growing town of Cheltenham with drinking water. The two powerful pumps manufactured by Gwynnes would have pumped water from the reservoir and treated it through numerous filter beds before feeding the town's water supply.
The site was later taken over by Severn Trent Water who managed the site until closure. 7 large filter beds were demolished in around 2020 to make way for an overspill car park for a nearby business, but the waterworks building itself remains in situ. I am not sure on the exact year the waterworks closed, it may have been as early as the 1990s. The site closed as a result of a more modern installation being installed in Twekesbury known as the Mythe Water Treatment Works. The reservoir is now used as a balancing pond for flooding.
The Explore
I pulled up in the large car park next door to see a man sitting in a white Fiat Panda. It looked a bit sus to start with, as he was parked close to the building whereas all other cars were parked up the other end. It appeared that he was on his lunch break and doing a job nearby, it was a company car for a utilities firm. I waited it out and about 20 minutes later he left, I then walked around the site and found a difficult way inside, but later discovered a much easier way in but it did involve a bit of climbing. This point of entry was very visible and people would’ve seen me, so I had to camp out for a further 10 minutes as people were talking in the car park, but I eventually got in and out unseen. I tried to get inside as quietly as possible, as the field behind had a caravan in it right near the fence and it looked like someone was living there.
Photos
Starting off with a few externals:
Most of the filter beds have been demolished, but a few still remain attached to the building:
Heading inside, I was greeted with the lovely Gwynnes pump and electric motor setups. Part of the roof here has been removed in recent years, strange how they only removed that bit and not the whole thing.
The longer section of the building consists of various electrical panels, the old main entrance, and a number of filter chambers placed alongside the walll. The lighting was lovely in here and made taking photos quite enjoyable
Finally, heading upstairs. This used to house a small kitchen and staff room area where workers would take breaks. This section is very heavily decayed.
Thanks for looking.
An exploring friend on Facebook visited this earlier this year and he kindly provided me with some information about it and I finally had a chance to check it out after being in the area for the 28 Days Later meet.
Information & History
Located in close proximity to Dowdeswell Reservoir, the Cheltenham Corporation Waterworks was constructed in 1925 to supply the growing town of Cheltenham with drinking water. The two powerful pumps manufactured by Gwynnes would have pumped water from the reservoir and treated it through numerous filter beds before feeding the town's water supply.
The site was later taken over by Severn Trent Water who managed the site until closure. 7 large filter beds were demolished in around 2020 to make way for an overspill car park for a nearby business, but the waterworks building itself remains in situ. I am not sure on the exact year the waterworks closed, it may have been as early as the 1990s. The site closed as a result of a more modern installation being installed in Twekesbury known as the Mythe Water Treatment Works. The reservoir is now used as a balancing pond for flooding.
The Explore
I pulled up in the large car park next door to see a man sitting in a white Fiat Panda. It looked a bit sus to start with, as he was parked close to the building whereas all other cars were parked up the other end. It appeared that he was on his lunch break and doing a job nearby, it was a company car for a utilities firm. I waited it out and about 20 minutes later he left, I then walked around the site and found a difficult way inside, but later discovered a much easier way in but it did involve a bit of climbing. This point of entry was very visible and people would’ve seen me, so I had to camp out for a further 10 minutes as people were talking in the car park, but I eventually got in and out unseen. I tried to get inside as quietly as possible, as the field behind had a caravan in it right near the fence and it looked like someone was living there.
Photos
Starting off with a few externals:
Most of the filter beds have been demolished, but a few still remain attached to the building:
Heading inside, I was greeted with the lovely Gwynnes pump and electric motor setups. Part of the roof here has been removed in recent years, strange how they only removed that bit and not the whole thing.
The longer section of the building consists of various electrical panels, the old main entrance, and a number of filter chambers placed alongside the walll. The lighting was lovely in here and made taking photos quite enjoyable
Finally, heading upstairs. This used to house a small kitchen and staff room area where workers would take breaks. This section is very heavily decayed.
Thanks for looking.
the for sale sign is still up!
