Structure
The tower is built in the Romanesque Revival architecture, Romanesque Revival style, constructed of coursed, squared sandstone, and arranged in a square plan. On each side are two narrow full-height Romanesque arches, all with stepped surrounds and arch-bands, and linked by an impost band. Above the arches is a plain frieze with carved grotesques at the corners, topped with machicolated corbelling. The stone is a pale red and mottled form of Ormskirk Sandstone Formation, Ormskirk Sandstone, probably extracted from nearby Ruff Wood. In its present state, the tower stands at a height of approximately . Originally, the stonework was surmounted by a metal water tank with a Roof pitch, pitched slate-covered roof, which added an extra to the height of the structure. Due to its poor condition, the tank was removed in the early 1990s.Proposed developments
Planning permission was granted in 1988 for the conversion of the tower into a single dwelling, though the scheme was never implemented. Subsequent applications to convert the tower into offices or an apartment block were either refused or withdrawn. An application for conversion into seven apartments was made in 2004, though this was also rejected, and an appeal against the decision was dismissed in April 2008. Development of the site has met with opposition from local residents, and local Conservative Party (UK), Conservative councillor Adrian Owens was amongst critics of the 2004 application.See also
*Grade II* listed buildings in Lancashire *Listed buildings in Ormskirk *Jumbo Water Tower, a water tower of similar design in Colchester, Essex *References
External links
* {{Buildings and structures in West Lancashire Ormskirk Infrastructure completed in 1854 Towers completed in 1854 Grade II* listed buildings in Lancashire Romanesque Revival architecture in England Water towers in the United Kingdom Buildings and structures in the Borough of West Lancashire Towers in Lancashire