Description and History of Site:-

From medieval times, Hull's drinking water had been abstracted from springs near Alnaby, to the west of the city. By the mid 19th century this source of supply became increasingly unable to cope with the demand. On the advice of one Thomas Wicksteed, engineer to the East London Waterworks Company, an Act of Parliament was obtained by the Hull Corporation to abstract water from the River Hull at Stone Ferry. There was considerable local opposition to the proposal, based on the fact that the water was sometimes brackish, the River Hull being tidal at this point, and generally contaminated by sewage and industrial pollution from towns higher up the river. Nevertheless, the scheme was proceeded with. The foundation stone of the Stoneferry Waterworks was laid by Mr. Alderman Thompson, Chairman of the Waterworks Committee on April 29th 1844, and the first supply of water commenced in August 1845.

In 1864, Sheahan wrote: "The original works at Stoneferry cost £58,000 ; and those that have been since erected there have swelled that sum to a total of £92,808. When the works were first opened they consisted of an engine-house (in which were two direct acting engines, each of 60 horse power), boiler-house, a stand-pipe tower capable of supplying water to the highest points in the town, a subsiding reservoir and filter bed covering about three acres, and capable of containing about 5,000,000 gallons, an entrance basin, flood-gates, and some cottages and offices. In 1850 a second engine-house was erected, and a single acting engine placed in it of 170 horse power, called the "Thompson Engine," in compliment of Alderman Thompson. Again, in 1862, it was thought necessary to erect a third engine and engine-house, and an additional filter bed (a circular one) capable of holding 3,000,000 gallons of water. The last-mentioned engine is called after Alderman Mayfield, the "Mayfield Engine," and is of 220 horse power. The stand-pipe tower is 174 feet high ; one of the boiler-house chimneys is 135 feet, and another 130 feet high. A neat and commodious residence for the engineer was erected in 1850, and a large garden is attached to it. The area of the entire works, &c, is about fourteen acres."

Curiously, at the time that the last phase of expansion, costing £17,000, was being projected, the possibilities of obtaining more water from the original sources in the Alnaby and Derrington Springs area were being actively explored. In spite of the considerable, and increasing, investment in the Stoneferry river water abstraction scheme the water supplied from there was not generally liked. By the mid 1860's the investigations at the old sources eventually led to the construction of the bore-holes and pumping station at Springhead (EYK00148). For some time, the water from Springhead was pumped to the reservoir and filter beds at Stoneferry for onward distribution to the town.

By the end of the 19th century it became clear that the abstraction, filtration and storage facilities at Stoneferry would no longer be required, even as a backup for the supplies from Springhead, and the works became disused. The reservoirs and earthworks are still evident on mapping and aerial imagery into the 1930's, but seem to have disappeared by the mid 1940's.

The site of the Stoneferry waterworks in 1931. The remains of the works stretch across the image in the middle distance. The photograph was taken looking south-west. https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EPW036534

Further Reading and References:-

Sheahan, J. J., General and Concise History and Description of the Town and Port of Kingston-upon-Hull, 1864, London.

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Key Words :- potable water abstraction reservoir

Viewing the Site :- Can be viewed from the public road or footpath

Address :- Reservoir Road, Hull, East Yorkshire, HU6 7QD
Grid Ref :- TA 0996 3160
Co-ordinates :- Lat 53.769145 , Long -0.333166
Local Authority :- Hull City Council
Pre 1974 County :- Yorkshire - East Riding
Site Status :- Site demolished or no longer extant
Site Condition :- Site redeveloped to industrial / commercial use
Site Dates :- 1843 - c1910
Contributor :- Nick Nelson - 9 May 2020

Copyright :- cc-by-nc-sa 4.0 © Nick Nelson