York Buildings Water Tower


The York Buildings Waterworks' Water Tower was a water tower on the north bank of the River Thames and a dominant feature of the 18th century London skyline. It was built by the York Buildings Company, who operated the waterworks there.
The water tower was a wooden structure, high and with an octagonal cross-section. It was erected in the late 17th century on a site at the end of Villiers Street, by the York Watergate, now part of the Victoria Embankment Gardens. The Survey of London includes a drawing showing the building.

In art

The prominent position and height of the water tower meant it appeared in many paintings and drawings of London's north bank at the time. These include:
ArtistTitle Gallery/CollectionNotes
John BoydellWestminster and the York Buildings WaterworksPalace of Westminster
CanalettoLondon Seen Through an Arch of Westminster Bridge Syon House
CanalettoLondon: The Old Horse Guards from St James's ParkTate Gallery L02305 from The Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation
Canaletto"The Thames at Westminster, London"National Trust, Penrhyn Castle
Joseph FaringtonThe Old Water Tower at York Buildings, WhitehallVictoria and Albert Museum
James Peller MalcolmYork Buildings looking towards Westminster with a View of the Water Tower
James MaltonThe River Thames Looking Towards Westminster with York Water Gate and the York Building Water Works Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums
William MarlowThe London Riverfront from Westminster to the Adelphi Museum of London
Samuel ScottAn Arch of Westminster Bridge Tate Gallery T01193
Samuel ScottAn Arch of Old Westminster Bridge Tate Gallery N01223
After Samuel ScottA View of the Thames with the York Buildings Water TowerTate Gallery N01328
After Samuel ScottThe Thames with the York Buildings Water TowerNational Museums Liverpool, Walker Art Gallery