Former Esso Research Centre
When we visited the building, very little was known to us about the site. It was recommended by a friend who had been past the site many times and had thought from the Tudor beams on the tower, the site could possibly be an abandoned farm house of sorts. We later found that not to be the case!
A little research online showed that the site was previously Esso Research Centre Abingdon (ERCA). Most of the site has been demolished, but for some reason this building has been left remaining. I believe the site was built around the 1950, and was Esso's main technical center for fuels and lubricants.
The site was purchased with planning permission back in 2016 by Tesco, who had plans to turn the site into a Dot-Com warehouse. The permission was opposed at the time, but was accepted with some conditions. These included archaeological investigation, contamination clause and commencement within three years. As this was published back in 2016, it can be assumed this is no longer going ahead, and the site itself can be found on real estate sites for commercial businesses. (A real shame as the warehouse itself would have created up to 750 new jobs for the local area.)
A little research online showed that the site was previously Esso Research Centre Abingdon (ERCA). Most of the site has been demolished, but for some reason this building has been left remaining. I believe the site was built around the 1950, and was Esso's main technical center for fuels and lubricants.
The site was purchased with planning permission back in 2016 by Tesco, who had plans to turn the site into a Dot-Com warehouse. The permission was opposed at the time, but was accepted with some conditions. These included archaeological investigation, contamination clause and commencement within three years. As this was published back in 2016, it can be assumed this is no longer going ahead, and the site itself can be found on real estate sites for commercial businesses. (A real shame as the warehouse itself would have created up to 750 new jobs for the local area.)
This water tower had a new top roof put on in the mid 1990’s by Abingdon Roofing & Building Ltd.
ReplyDeletethe tower was built originally built to supply water to the Manor (now Milton Hill Hotel) it was owned at one time by Mr Singer (of sewing machine fame)
I was in the maintenance department, working as a contractor coordinator. So I obtained the quote, raised the order, I raised the work permits and oversaw the scaffolding, old roofing removal and new roof construction. The cost was £25,000 which also included the treatment of the oak beams as the scaffolding was in place.
The water tower is all gone now, however I did think it would be preserved a local landmark, I was told this tower was one of two in the country.
During my time at the Esso Research Centre the water tower housed two large water tanks, electrical switch frames, and a water pump powered by a six cylinder engine that supplied a fire water ring main for the whole site including fire monitors that were situated in the petroleum compounds.
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