The York Buildings Waterworks' Water Tower was a water tower on the north bank of the River Thames and a dominant feature of the 18th century London skyline. It was built by the York Buildings Company, who operated the waterworks there.
The water tower was a wooden structure, high and with an octagonal cross-section. It was erected in the late 17th century on a site at the end of Villiers Street, by the York Watergate, now part of the Victoria Embankment Gardens. The Survey of London includes a drawing (plate 31 in volume 18) showing the building.
In art The prominent position and height of the water tower meant it appeared in many paintings and drawings of London's north bank at the time. These include:
Artist Title (date) Gallery/Collection Notes John Boydell Westminster and the York Buildings Waterworks Palace of Westminster Canaletto London Seen Through an Arch of Westminster Bridge (1746–47) Syon House Canaletto London: The Old Horse Guards from St James's Park Tate Gallery L02305 from The Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation Canaletto "The Thames at Westminster, London" National Trust, Penrhyn Castle Joseph Farington The Old Water Tower at York Buildings, Whitehall Victoria and Albert Museum James Peller Malcolm York Buildings looking towards Westminster with a View of the Water Tower James Malton The River Thames Looking Towards Westminster with York Water Gate and the York Building Water Works (1797) Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums William Marlow The London Riverfront from Westminster to the Adelphi (1971–72) Museum of London Samuel Scott An Arch of Westminster Bridge (c.1750) Tate Gallery T01193 Samuel Scott An Arch of Old Westminster Bridge (c.1750) Tate Gallery N01223 After Samuel Scott A View of the Thames with the York Buildings Water Tower Tate Gallery N01328 After Samuel Scott The Thames with the York Buildings Water Tower National Museums Liverpool, Walker Art Gallery
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