A CHARITY working to give a new lease of life to Colchester’s historic Jumbo water tower has announced a series of events

to celebrate the building’s heritage.

Supported through a £10,000 lottery award, the Jumbo Summer project will enable people of all ages to learn about its history.

It will include talks, the creation of an animated film, children’s art projects and heritage and design workshops.

Activities have received support from Colchester Council, the Royal Institute of British Architects, history experts and Signals art charity.

Jumbo Week will take place on the run-up to the final celebration event at Firstsite on July 21.

Town centre traders will be encouraged to display posters and other decorations designed by children and to decorate windows with a Jumbo-themed displays.

North Essex Heritage, formerly Colchester and North East Essex Building Preservation Trust, is working with partners, including the building’s owner Paul Flatman, towards preserving Jumbo and bringing it back into sustainable use. Work continues to secure funding for a project to conserve the crumbling Victorian Grade ll* listed landmark.

Simon Hall, North Essex Heritage chairman, said: “Jumbo has been the talk of the town since 1883 and the time has come to celebrate this magnificent piece of Victorian industrial heritage. We hope everyone will join in these events, made possible by Lottery Players, Colchester Borough Council and RIBA.

“These creative activities provide a wonderful opportunity to learn about our history and

demonstrate Jumbo’s unique place in Colchester’s heritage and heart.”

One of the first events will be a ten-week course of evening heritage research workshops starting on April 29.

Places are limited. To apply, email kettlecomms@gmail.com.

Historians Andrew Phillips and Patrick Denny, who are running the 10-week study course, said: “You could not make it up: a public health crisis, disastrous High Street fires, amazing engineering and more. Jumbo has a fascinating history which we will be exploring from original sources.”

Experts will also be adding to Colchester Recalled’s oral history collection by interviewing people who were there during the water tower’s long working life.

North Essex Heritage is also encouraging anyone with stories relating to Jumbo’s long working life to email kettlecomms@gmail.com.

On May 11 there will be talks by historians at Firstsite, Colchester.

More event details will be released in coming weeks and will include information about a display at Hollytrees museum.

The Balkerne Water Tower, affectionately known as Jumbo, is recognised as the most important municipal water tower in the country.

Standing 34-metres tall and dominating the Colchester skyline for 136 years, Jumbo has fallen into disrepair after being vacant for 30 years and the giant water tank is deteriorating.

In 1993 the building was put on the Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register.