Dating back to the time of the Industrial Revolution, this water tower and steam pump-house was originally to be built on the other bank of the river. However, when the work started, it was soon realised that the ground was far too boggy to support such a heavy structure. Fortunately the other riverbank was on bedrock and was covered in only a thin layer of top soil which was deemed to be much more suitable for the building.
   Before the construction could proceed, a bridge had to be built across the river -- no mean feat indeed! At first plans were drawn up for a temporary bridge bridge, but the cost was not far short of building a perrmanent one -- so that idea was soon abandoned. After the completion of the iron bridge, the work to build the water tower and pump-house could commence, thus ensuring that this 'monument to iron' remains an inspiration to engineers to this day.