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The Jumbo Project

Metal railings surround the huge red metal panels which form one side of a water tank. Round rivets, bolts and wires are seen close-up. In the background there is a view of the roof tops of Colchester.

The Balkerne Water Tower, known as Jumbo, was opened in 1883 to provide clean water to Colchester. Decommissioned in 1984, this unique Victorian building has suffered decades of neglect and is cracking, needing urgent restoration.

After decades of others trying to find a commercial use for the structure failed, North Essex Heritage (the operating name of Colchester and North East Essex Building Preservation Trust) stepped in. In December 2021 a 150-year lease was negotiated to secure Jumbo for community use.

Thanks to National Lottery players, The Jumbo Project will conserve and adapt this iconic structure, a water tower from the ‘Golden Age’ of industrial engineering.

About 20 smiling people wearing high visibility jackets are seen at the bottom of a red brick building.
" Brian Light and the Balkerne Tower Trust’s successful application to upgrade Jumbo to a Grade II* listing, and their determination over many years to oppose inappropriate development has helped give North Essex Heritage the platform to drive the project forwards.

Simon Hall MBE DL
Chair of North Essex Heritage

Our plan

The Jumbo Project from North Essex Heritage will give Jumbo a sustainable future which preserves its special character. With the cooperation of its owner, Colchester City Council and The National Lottery Heritage Fund, we have developed our plans for this special building.

North Essex Heritage plans to set up a commercially viable operation to pay for the building’s upkeep once it has been restored. The building will be run as a destination venue, restaurant, visitor experience and historical interpretation space. Jumbo will be a fully accessible heritage attraction, so everyone can admire the remarkable engineering and stunning views or join in community activities.

We are listening to and engaging with our communities, assembling our team of experts, making grant applications, and developing partnerships. Planning permission and listed building consent are in place.

An £8m delivery grant has been secured from The National Lottery Heritage Fund following £250,000 of development funding.

The Jumbo Project has received UK Government Funding which has been important in developing and realising our plans.

In recent years The Jumbo Project has also received valuable advice and financial support from Historic England, In 2025 Historic England gave an additional £550,000 to fund the transformation of the building. The Architectural Heritage Fund and The Pilgrim Trust have also given funding.

North Essex Heritage is the operating name of Colchester & North East Essex Building Preservation Trust.

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Sketch section showing activity throughout Jumbo

Sketch section showing activity throughout Jumbo

Image Credit: Purcell

Sketch section showing activity throughout Jumbo

Sketch section showing activity throughout Jumbo

Image Credit: Purcell

Bringing Jumbo Back to Life

Thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund and other funders, charity North Essex Heritage is working to save the Colchester’s iconic Jumbo water tower and bring it back into use for everyone to enjoy.

The Jumbo Project will restore the derelict Grade ll* listed building and transform it into an accessible heritage attraction. Complementary commercial uses will add to visitor revenue and so ensure financial sustainability.

Imagine climbing 40m to enjoy the impressive views across Colchester and beyond, marvel at an immersive audio-visual experience or hold your special event inside this historic venue.

A new lift and staircase will allow everyone to access the huge water tank and engineers’ room. A new service floor will accommodate equipment and toilets. A reception and interpretation area is planned on the ground floor.

Concept storyboard of the AV experience

Image Credit: Imagemakers

Did You Know?

1,140 tonnes
Of water held (a quarter of a million gallons)
131ft 40.5m
High
157
Steps to the tank
1.25m
Locally produced bricks used to build Jumbo

An Experience Like No Other

Once reopened, Jumbo will offer events for everyone. Step inside the magnificent water tank, enjoy unrivalled views of Colchester and discover fascinating secrets of Victorian life.

The audio-visual shows in the tank will tell Jumbo’s incredible story, bring our city’s history to life and showcase important contemporary issues from a unique perspective.

At the end of the show the window blinds will open to provide visitors with a new perspective on the city and for the ultimate 360° view visitors will be able to access the cupola on top of the tower.

Special events will include concerts and The Jumbo Christmas Experience, a major part of Colchester’s fabulous festive events.

A Very Different Day Out

Tour with your school group or community group

Eat and drink 40 metres above Colchester

Walk inside the huge water tank and explore the engineers’ room

Discover Colchester from a whole new angle

Learn about our industrial and social heritage

Visit the cupola on top of the tower

Concept storyboard of the AV experience

Image Credit: Imagemakers

Be Part of Jumbo's Future

A restored and repurposed Jumbo will be for the enjoyment of our local communities, as well as for visitors to the city. People of all ages will be able to benefit from Jumbo’s new life and enjoy this important heritage asset.

Funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund is supporting the transformation of Jumbo and paying for a team to deliver diverse outreach activities during the renovation period and for six months post-opening.

A series of activities has been designed based on extensive consultation with key stakeholders including schools, Colchester City Council’s Residents’ Panel, cultural organisations and community groups.

Our popular Jumbo tours and talks, projects centred around art, sound and water stories, family activities and a schools’ programme are just some of the activities planned for in and around Jumbo.

Building a strong community of volunteers will be at the heart of the delivery of the activities. To find out more sign up to our newsletter:

Learn new skills
Join a school visit and explore STEM curriculum links
Join a school visit and explore STEM curriculum links
Train as a volunteer guide or heritage supporter
Find a new community of like-minded people centred on Jumbo

What Happens Next?

Disused for 40 years, Jumbo is in urgent need of repair and restoration, the clock is ticking to save Jumbo, and we are close to being fully funded, but this £10.917m project still needs additional investment. So far, North Essex Heritage’s work has been made possible by a breathtaking £8m from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, UK Government Funding (Levelling Up), support from Colchester City Council and grants from Historic England and other key funders.

With significant funding already secured, North Essex Heritage is now seeking support to bridge the remaining fundraising gap. We would love to hear from funding organisations and corporate sponsors who want to get involved in this prestigious and highly visible exemplar of historic building conservation and creative heritage reuse.

We already have planning permission to work on this heritage treasure, and we are excited to be involving local people on shaping its future. We have appointed construction company Sir Robert McAlpine Special Projectsto realise the vision of Purcell architects and work is starting in 2025. Newly restored, Jumbo is set to reopen in 2027.

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