About

Jumbo Water Tower was built in 1883 and once provided clean water to Colchester Town Centre. Today it stands empty and is no longer open to the public, but it still a great source of civic pride to local residents.

Named after London Zoo's Jumbo the elephant the name was initially a term of derision, but soon stuck and is now used rather fondly.

The tower is currently in the care of North Essex Heritage who are working to restore Jumbo and turn it into a financially sustainable asset for Colchester and beyond. You can find more information about this project here.

Public open days have been held in September of 2022 and 2023 as part of Heritage Open Days allowing visitors to climb Jumbo and enjoy the views from the top. Keep an eye on the Visit Colchester social media channels and Heritage Open Days page for more information about future events.