Worcester Vista - a view of Worcester, articles and photos about the City of Worcester

Worcester Waterworks

The waterworks is a Victorian building, the original part of which dates from 1858. The building is situated in Gheluvelt Park, near the river.

Outbreaks of cholera in Worcester in the early nineteenth century were blamed on the quality and availability of the water supply. This led to the construction of a sophisticated waterworks at Barbourne in 1857-8 designed by Thomas Hawkesley, the greatest authority on municipal water supplies.

The original river supplies were completely unfiltered, it was many years before clean drinking water was introduced, giving an immediate benefit to the residents, with a dramatic drop in the cases of typhoid.

The City council made many improvements in the following years with two additions to the pumphouse one in 1868 and later in 1902 as well as improving filtration technology.

Severn Trent the local water supplier is still using part of the Waterworks.

Recently the Worcestershire Duckworth Trust has converted the main building in to the Community Environment Centre. The centre demonstrates technologies that can be applied to home and office to reduce the impact on the environment of everyday actions.
The centre has underfloor heating provided from geothermal boreholes situated under the adjoining parkland.
Wind turbines supply electrical power; solar panels are installed on the roof.
Rainwater from the roof is stored to flush toilets. Sensor taps and low flush systems also prevent water wastage.
Sheep's wool insulation has been used throughout the building, to reduce energy use.
Other environmentally friendly materials have been used in the construction, including natural clay plastering, also timber used is from sustainable sources, coconut fibre carpets have been utilised in the offices. The refurbished pump house building was opened to the public on August 25/ 2004.