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 Title: High & Mighty Filed: July 2004) Russell and Jannette Harris have spent seven years converting and extending their grade II listed Victorian water tower into a home for the future. In the picturesque village of Lymm in Cheshire stands a Victorian stone water tower straight out of a fairy tale. The 130-year-old landmark is of special architectural and historical interest, and was purchased by the Harris family seven years ago with the idea of rescuing the derelict building to create a unique family home.
The couple had previously converted a farmhouse together in a traditional style, and their first thought for the tower site was to build a separate cottage in the grounds and to simply preserve the tower. Early plans fell through while architects came and went, however, and – as the years passed – Russell and Jannette almost lost heart. In a final attempt the Harrises approached various large building companies about joining the project and met with Barry Harvey of Redrow Homes plc. “We just hit it off immediately. He could see what we wanted to do here and was prepared to go with it,” Russell says. Harvey introduced the Harrises to Ellis Williams Architects, where Julian Baker took on the project and became not only an inspiration but also a family friend. Lymm water tower is a grade II listed building, now some 30 years redundant from its original function as a header tank for the local water supply. The tower was in desperate need of substantial restoration work, and a detailed structural engineer’s report found the existing water tank to be expanding, due to corrosion, which had caused cracking in the stonework. The turret at the top of the spiral stairs also required rebuilding, and had been damaged by movement of the original flagpole.
Ellis Williams Architects produced drawings which focus on blending contemporary design with the building’s traditional features, resulting in simple, powerful detailing. A double-height entrance lobby opens into a reception area, and a ramp leads into the main living area, with changes in level defining the functions of the ground floor spaces. The design for the wrap-around kitchen and living room extension consists of a series of outward looking steel-framed radial spaces with a high-level convex glass façade that runs its entire length, and creates the impression that the roof is floating above the structure. At the top of the tower is a decked roof garden with a teak hot tub, offering views of the Cheshire countryside to the outline of Manchester, twenty miles away. With over 60 partnership companies involved in the construction process, and dramatic problems occurring at almost every stage, the enterprise has taken on an unforeseen scale and level of commitment for the Harris family. “When we were first considering the project we estimated the cost of the build at £75,000. The last time I looked at the quantity surveyor’s report I needed therapy for a fortnight!” Russell laughs. The latest figures indicate a total closer to £500,000 – a sum so large that Russell cannot bear to speak it, and Jannette has asked that he no longer talks to her about money. Due to the complexities of this conversion, John Crawford, senior partner with leading independent specialists The VAT Consultancy, was brought in to advise on the VAT element of the project. It is fundamentally a renovation that requires change of use from a building with an industrial past to a residential home.
“Remarkable industrial buildings have been
demolished for years, ignoring calls for them to
be converted to modern uses. Many old industrial
buildings are as much a part of national heritage
as cathedrals, palaces or country houses, and
remain icons for their towns and cities. There is
a huge potential for old industrial buildings to
provide a uniquely attractive atmosphere for
modern living – people love these buildings,
which give pride back to communities.”
The Prince of Wales, April 26, 1999 The tower’s only use had been as a platform for Orange, Cellnet and One 2 One aerials, which had resulted in an unsightly steel stub-mast at roof level. One of the key considerations was the need to retain the array of antennae that provide an income which is vital to the future of Tower House. Teams from each of the network operators worked with the architects to develop an aesthetically pleasing scheme that allows for the retention of the masts in a specially extended turret. The associated base cabinets will be housed in a self-contained space on the top floor, and the heat that they generate will be dissipated through heat exchangers and re-circulated throughout the building. The programme of work to develop the tower finally began in June 2002 and is now reaching the final stages. “We have nothing but praise for Redrow Homes and their site foreman, whose composure and expertise we found extremely reassuring,” Russell remarks. The tower has been sandblasted and the original water tank removed, with new holes punched into the stonework. Huge steel frames were hoisted into place to support the floors and the windows fitted. The scaffolding then came down and foundations were laid for the new extension.
Such luxuries will be in stark contrast to the rented accommodation which the Harris family have been living in for the past four years. “We don’t go out for dinner or on holiday, and I can’t remember the last time I bought any clothes – I’ve been living in my reflective jacket and feel like Bob the Builder,” says Russell. “If I wanted to be flippant, I would advise other selfbuilders not to put themselves through it. Sometimes I wish we had never bought the tower, but I have to follow my vision and, when it is finished, the house will be amazing and the tower will hopefully be a real landmark for Lymm.” Meanwhile, the only thing sustaining the momentum of the project, and the family, is the thought of the unbelievable house-warming party which will follow. “Our tower was built in 1870 and was sponsored by the local landed gentry, which is why it is so beautiful – the classic romantic Rapunzel tower – but it also has a tremendously utilitarian feel to it,” says Jannette. “It has taken us seven years to convert, but we have ended up with a most astonishing private house which will be amazing to live in. We can’t wait to move in!” |
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| © 2001 - 2004 Russell Harris |
