'I think it will fall down': Historian calls for action to save 175-year-old Wolverhampton tower

A Wolverhampton historian fears that a 175-year-old tower could collapse if remedial action is not taken to bring it back into use.

Mark Cooper is concerned about the future of the Grade II listed water tower and pumping station in Goldthorn Hill, which has not been used since 1980.

Mr Cooper, who lives near the site, said he could not understand why owner Severn Trent Water had not put the building on the market if it had no future use for it.

“I think it’ll collapse if nothing is done with it, the cement is not in the best condition, I think it will just fall down,” he said.

“Maybe that’s what they’re looking for.”

He has written to Severn Trent on a number of occasions, saying: ‘Both residents and the local history society and listed buildings are concerned about the poor state of the building and grounds, which are a disgrace’.

Severn Trent said it hoped to make an announcement on the future of the building ‘in the coming weeks’.

Mr Cooper, who has written a number of books about Blakenhall’s industrial heritage, said the building, which also includes the former engine attendant’s house, could be sold to a developer for conversion for housing, or would be suitable for use as a museum or community venue.

He said: “I have lived in sight of this amazing building for almost 50 years and have campaigned for Severn Trent Water to take responsibility for its renovation and repair, to get it back on track.

“The station is derelict and in poor shape, it has been abused by the owners and is blighting a once lovely area.

“It had lapsed planning consent so it must have been on a wish list at some time.

“For longer than I can remember, I and residents have been campaigning to bring this iconic building back from the brink, and we have badgered our MPs, councillors, planners and others to get the building working again.

“Severn Trent have been long on excuses and short on delivery on a building that they are responsible for its upkeep, despite complaints. Severn Trent have no respect for the building or for the residents as can be seen today.”

Mr Cooper said the sale of the building could bring in £500,000 for the company, so it was hard to understand the motives for its neglect.

“There are wonderful views from the top of the tower, you can see The Wrekin,” he added.

A spokesman for Severn Trent said: “We appreciate the importance the pumping station in Goldthorn Hill has locally and we’ll hopefully be able to share some exciting news on the site in the coming weeks.”

Originally established as an active pumping station in 1851, the site is recognized for its heritage as one of the country's earliest examples of 19th-century pumping-station architecture. It was built by the former Wolverhampton Water Company in a striking Italianate architectural style.

While water wells were abandoned at the turn of the 20th century, the site continued to house a historic 40,000-gallon elevated storage tank on the roof of the pump house.