Angus HER - NO64SW0130 - KEPTIE HILL WATER TOWER

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Main Details

Primary ReferenceNO64SW0130
NameKEPTIE HILL WATER TOWER
NRHE Card No.NO64SW130
NRHE Numlink 114865
HES SM No. NULL
HES LB No. 21240
Site Form Standing Structure
Site Condition Complete 2
Details Former water tower built in 1885 on an elevated site to the South of the centre of Arbroath, known locally as Arbroath's castle. Designed by William Gillespie Lamond (of Friockheim) as a sham medieval castle. Constructed in rusticated red sandstone topped with machicolated battlements, it has battered and buttressed walls pierced by segmental arched false windows. At the North end is a large round arched entrance under false box-machicolation with crowstepped gablet flanked by battlemented merlons. At the South end is a square tower with corbelled battlement and a circular corner turret corbelled out from its southeast corner. The main wallhead has moulded corbels carrying a battlement with projecting animal gargoyles. It was built with the labour of unemployed in Arbroath in an early form of workfare. It was designed to provide the town with an adequate drinking water supply, following the drought of 1870 which combined with the increase in housing around Arbroath had led the Arbroath Corporation to seek an additional water supply. The water tower was only operational for 20 years. The Tower contained three lined tanks with a total capacity of 200000 gallons. The location was chosen because of a natural spring that flowed there. The use of the Tower was discontinued following the provision of a greater water supply from Glenogil. In 1937 the land surrounding the Water Tower was given to the Town Council for use as a park, a function it retains to this day. The water tower has been on the Scottish Civic Trust's Buildings at Risk register since 1990.
Last Update19/07/2022
Updated Bycpalmer
Compiler 
Date of Compilation 

Google Map for NO64SW0130

National Grid Reference: NO 6353 4077



Event Details


Excavations and Surveys


Artefact and Ecofact

Ecofact

Samples
Palynology
Ecofact Notes

Monument Types

Monument Type 1Monument Type 2Monument Type 3OrderProbability
TURRETSCORNER B100
BATTLEMENTS MACHICOLATEDC100
WALLS BUTTRESSEDF100
WINDOWSFALSEARCHEDG100
ENTRANCES ROUND-ARCHEDH100
GABLETS CROW-STEPPEDI100
MERLONS BATTLEMENTEDJ100
TURRETSCIRCULAR K100
TOWERSSQUARE D100
BATTLEMENTS CORBELLEDE100
CORBELS MOULDEDL100
GARGOYLES ANIMALM100
GARGOYLES PROJECTINGN100
TANKSWATER O100
TOWERSWATER A100