NHER 3548 (Building record) - Water House or Water Tower, Houghton Park

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Summary

Designed before 1733 by the Earl of Pembroke in the Palladian style, with an open Doric portico on the first floor covering a balcony with a central pedimented door. The building has a rusticated ground floor and a Venetian window. The Water House is the only documented building that was designed by the Earl of Pembroke.

Protected Status/Designation

Listed Building (I) 1342318: THE WATERTOWER

Location

Map sheet	TF72NE
Civil Parish	HOUGHTON, WEST NORFOLK, NORFOLK

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Full Description

Water House (marked in entirely the wrong position by Ordnance Survey).
By Lord Pembroke, early 18th century.
Tall rectangular building in stuccoed brick. Northeast facade of three bays: ground floor rusticated with three blank arches, first floor has corner pilasters and 2 Tuscan columns supporting a pediment. Southeast side has one door in ground floor, and Venetian window between corner pilasters on first.
Visited by E. Rose (NAU) 21 July 1977.

On the other hand the building marked by Ordnance Survey may be the actual well house where a horse powered wheel raised the water for the above water tower.
E. Rose (NAU).

Yes: see NHER 15660.
E. Rose (NAU).

Second visit on 31 January 1980 confirmed above; ground floor occupied by huge water tanks.
First floor entirely occupied by the interconnecting balconies.
Very poor condition.
E. Rose (NAU)

Restored in 1984, winning a craftsmanship award.
E. Rose (NAU) 14 March 1984.

Listed grade I.
See (S1) for parallels.
E. Rose (NAU) 28 October 1985.

Press cuttings in file.

See also (S2) which states this was the longest record of service of any water tower (up to 2003).
E. Rose (NLA), 7 February 2004.

Associated Sources (15)

--- SNF49521 Aerial Photograph: Edwards, D.A. (NLA). 1994. TF 7829AS - AU.
--- SNF48908 Aerial Photograph: Edwards, D.A. (NLA). 1995. TF7829/E - L.
--- SNF11653 Aerial Photograph: TF7829A-C.
--- SNF62482 Article in Serial: Harris, J.. 1969. The Water House at Houghton.. The Burlington Magazine. No 3. pp 300-301.
--- SNF82440 Documentary Source: Rosemary Bowden-Smith. 1987. The Water House.
--- SNF49212 Drawing: Various. Various. Architectural plans.
--- SNF7576 Monograph: Pevsner, N and Wilson, B. 1999. Norfolk 2: North-West and South. The Buildings of England. 2nd Edition. p 435.
--- SNF471 Newspaper Article: Dereham and Fakenham Times. 1984. Tower project at the top. 16 March.
--- SNF294 Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1984. Water tower at hall gets top prize. 13 March.
--- SNF53581 Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1987. Water still flows from the estate's old tower. 21 August.
--- SNF57722 Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card.
--- SNF8804 Secondary File: Secondary File.
--- SNF8807 Slide: Various. Slide.
<S1> SNF48662 Designation: Historic England. National Heritage List for England.
<S2> SNF53573 Monograph: Barton, B. 2003. Water towers of Britain and their part in bringing water to the people.

Site and Feature Types and Periods (1)

WATER TOWER (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Object Types (0)

Related NHER Records (2)

Find out more...(2)

Record last edited

Jul 14 2021 2:57PM