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| Thomas Hawksley (1807-1893) |
1st January 1889 at the Local Board Meeting, later to be called the council, members were informed that the new waterworks have commenced and the contract for the pipes accepted.
The Water Tower was designed by Thomas and Charles Hawksley of Westminster, they were also responsible for the whole scheme from which the water was to be piped from Snarestone to the Water Tower in Hinckley.
Mr W.W.Cooper who was the surveyor to the Local Board, was also the clerk for the Reservoir, Water Tower and Tank, Pumping and town distributary mains.
The contractor was Mr T.Smart of Nottingham for the building to the Water Tower and covered service Reservoir.
The Eagle Iron Co of Coventry supplied and erected the cast iron water tank on the tower for £850.
The Water Tower and Reservoir came to a cost of £4,847 10s.
The Water Tower is off Highfields Road but accessed from John street, it is 60ft high and square in plan and built on a foundation of cement concrete which is 18in thick. It is faced with Haunchwood brindle bricks. The second floor of Yorkshire flagging and supported on cast-iron girders resting on the walls of the tower. The walls are capped with projecting stone corbels and cornice.
The water tank has a capacity of 50,000 gallons, which is covered with a wooden framing, boarded over and covered with sheet lead, also fenced round the a strong ornamental cast-iron palisading. The roof of the tank is reached by a second iron ladder from the second floor.
2nd June 1902 at 7am the National Emblem was raised on the Water Tower to celebrate the end of the Boar War.
The Water Tower is a prominent land-mark that can be seen for many miles around Hinckley.
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