York Historic Environment Record

In 1846 the New York Waterworks Company was formed and on the advice of engineers new works were established at Acomb Landing, including large engine and boiler houses, three filter beds, two subsiding reservoirs and a high service reservoir at Severus Hill (Lendal Tower remained part of the Company’s property however, and contained the Company’s Board Room from 1932). A complete system of pipes was also laid to serve the entire city. In 1868 these facilities were joined by a filter bed near the Railway Company’s main line to provide an extra supply of filtered water, and seven years later, powerful new engines and pumps were installed to cope with increased demand and a new main was laid to Severus Hill. Additional plant was also added in 1886 and in 1895 and in 1905 the pumping capacity was also increased whilst new condensing engines and pumps were installed in No 4 Engine House. The waterworks could now pump 13, 000, 000 gallons of water in twenty-four hours. In 1914 a new water tower of reinforced concrete was built at Severus Tower to replace the reservoir there: at the time this was the largest such tower in Great Britain, holding 300, 000 gallons of water. Sixteen years later, electrically drawn pumps were also installed and the next year, 1931, the final steam plant at last ceased to be used.