Lottery's Role in Heritage Preservation, David Hockney's Grandest Exhibition to Date, and Lewis Hamilton Begins at Ferrari
In an exciting development for the town of Colchester, Essex, plans have been announced to transform the last intact listed water tower, Jumbo, into a commercially viable heritage attraction. The project, operated by North Essex Heritage under a 150-year lease, aims to restore and preserve Jumbo's unique character while creating a sustainable future for the building.
The vision for Jumbo is to establish it as a destination venue, featuring a restaurant, visitor experience, historical interpretation space, and community activities. The project emphasises full accessibility to ensure everyone can admire its engineering and views.
The restoration process will commence once major funding, planning permission, and listed building consent have been secured. An estimated £2 million is needed, which will be raised through public donations and fundraising. The project enjoys financial and expert support from Historic England, The Architectural Heritage Fund, The Pilgrim Trust, and is part of the Towns Fund initiative.
This support has enabled the appointment of a full Design Team and Project Managers, working alongside North Essex Heritage and Colchester City Council. The restoration contract has been awarded to Sir Robert McAlpine Special Projects, a renowned construction firm, signalling progress towards making the repurposing plans a reality.
Essential repairs are currently ongoing to stabilise the structure, with preparations continuing for the restoration work ahead.
Elsewhere, various other heritage projects across the UK are also receiving funding. For instance, the former Marchwell Stables of the West Sussex County Asylum will receive £1.28 million to create creative spaces. The Palais de Danse in St Ives, Cornwall, will be transformed into an immersive re-creation of Dame Barbara Hepworth's workshop, with a £2.85 million award.
The Strand Cinema in Belfast, the 1875 offices of Sheffield United Gas Light Company, and Bristol Old Market's Kingsley Hall are among other locations set to undergo restoration, thanks to grants totalling millions of pounds.
In a related note, Lewis Hamilton has started working at an iconic institution, where he will wear red. Meanwhile, David Hockney's exhibition at Fondation Louis Vuitton, spanning 11 rooms and focusing on the past 25 years of his work, is another cultural highlight.
The Jumbo water tower in Colchester will receive an £8 million grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, which will be used to open it as a heritage and events space. This exciting project is set to breathe new life into this historic structure, providing a unique attraction for visitors and the local community alike.
- The Jumbo water tower in Colchester will transform into a destination venue, featuring a restaurant, visitor experience, historical interpretation space, and community activities, aiming to offer a sustainable future for the building.
- The project to restore and preserve the unique character of the Jumbo water tower enjoys financial and expert support from various organizations, including Historic England, The Architectural Heritage Fund, The Pilgrim Trust, and is part of the Towns Fund initiative.
- Elsewhere in the UK, several heritage projects are also receiving funding, such as the former Marchwell Stables, the Palais de Danse in St Ives, The Strand Cinema in Belfast, the 1875 offices of Sheffield United Gas Light Company, and Bristol Old Market's Kingsley Hall.
- In addition to the Jumbo water tower restoration, notable cultural events include Lewis Hamilton working at an iconic institution, wearing red, and David Hockney's exhibition at Fondation Louis Vuitton, showcasing the past 25 years of his work.
