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Jumbo gets £8m grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Jumbo, the last intact listed water tower from a golden age of industrial water engineering, has been awarded an £8m grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund as part of over £27m funding to save heritage treasures of outstanding architecture and much-loved local buildings at significant risk.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund announced over £27m funding on Heritage Treasures Day, saving lesser known yet exceptional heritage gems across the UK, including Colchester’s Jumbo water tower.

Heritage Treasures Day spotlights the diverse range of heritage projects across the UK which have been saved thanks to funding from National Lottery players over the past 30 years. Since it began, The National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded £9.2bn to more than 52,000 projects across the UK and is the largest grant funder of the UK’s heritage.
The seven newly funded projects span the UK from Bristol to Belfast and Edinburgh to Essex, saving outstanding architecture and much-loved local buildings at significant risk. Through this investment each project will add to the cultural, musical, social and educational wellbeing of young people in their communities, providing a new lease of life for buildings and contributing positively to places across the UK.
Affectionately known in Colchester as Jumbo, the Balkerne Water Tower is the last intact listed water tower from a ‘Golden Age’ of industrial water engineering proudly stands at 131ft tall. Constructed using 1.2m locally produced bricks, it was built to hold 1,000 tons of clean water. An £8m grant award will restore and convert the Grade II* Listed Jumbo Water Tower making it accessible to the public for the first time as a heritage and events space.
Eilish McGuinness, Chief Executive, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said:
“It is wonderful to start the New Year investing in projects that are saving heritage treasures across the UK, with decades of shared memories these exceptional buildings will be repurposed for the 21st century at the centre of communities and places. From a monumental Victorian water tower in Colchester and an iconic architectural landmark within Edinburgh’s World Heritage site, to Kingsley Hall in Bristol’s Old Market – we are working with those who care for heritage, transforming historic gems and positively adding to wellbeing and educational opportunities for young people, making heritage the focus of communities, places and the UK economy.
“Thanks to money raised from National Lottery players over the last 30 years, we have awarded £3.3bn to more than 10,300 historic building and monument projects for the long-term, helping to ensure heritage is valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future.”
Simon Hall MBE DL, Chair of Colchester North East Essex Heritage, said:
“This breathtaking support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund is a game changer for our project and our city. It will enable us to save this unique piece of industrial heritage and transform the way our communities engage with Colchester’s history and future. Thanks to Lottery players, Jumbo will become a leading destination and a resource for the community, with life changing opportunities to get involved and learn skills. The funding will ensure we can inspire future generations and diverse groups, attract visitors, provide jobs and create a financially sustainable asset.”
The Jumbo Project will restore Grade II* Listed Jumbo Water Tower, a monumental Victorian water tower and significant landmark of the Colchester skyline. Completed in 1883, it remained in its original use until 1984, bringing clean water to the city for drinking and firefighting. Delivery plans include carrying out work to convert and facilitate year-round use as a commercially viable and accessible heritage and events venue. It offers the last chance to save the structure. Through The Jumbo Project, access will be improved to all levels, creating a visitor attraction offering stunning views across the city and county of Essex.