Full Report for Listed Buildings


The list description is not intended to be a complete inventory of what is listed: it is principally intended to aid identification. By law, the definition of a listed building includes the entire building (i) and any structure or object that is fixed to the said building and ancillary to it and (ii) any other structure or object that forms part of the land and has done so since before 1 July 1948, and was within the curtilage of the building, and ancillary to it, on the date on which said building was first included in the list, or on 1 January 1969, whichever was later.

Summary Description


Reference Number
16201
Building Number
 
Grade
II*  
Status
Designated  
Date of Designation
31/07/1995  
Date of Amendment
31/07/1995  
Name of Property
Foel Valve Tower  
Address
 

Location


Unitary Authority
Powys  
Community
Rhayader  
Town
 
Locality
Elan Valley  
Easting
291061  
Northing
264071  
Street Side
 
Location
Near NE end of Carreg Ddu viaduct.  

Description


Broad Class
Water Supply and Drainage  
Period
 

History
Part of the Elan Valley reservoir scheme built by City of Birmingham 1893 to 1904. Engineer James Mansergh. The scheme was amongst the greatest civic achievements of the late C19. The Corporation of Birmingham employed direct labour for the scheme which involved the construction of 53 km of railway to transport materials from the Wye Valley line at Rhayader, 4 dams, an aqueduct 126 km long, and a village for construction workers. The height of the reservoirs enabled water to reach the outskirts of Birmingham by gravity alone, without the expense of pumping. Provision was made for future expansion in the Claerwen Valley where the scheme was brought to its current state by the Claerwen dam in 1952. Water supply to Birmingham is taken from this tower.  

Exterior
Round valve tower; brown rock-faced stone. Upper stage has copper dome with low lantern and weathervane, seven round arched windows; towards landward side, doorway onto bridge connecting tower to land; bridge has elliptical arch and parapet which continues round broader lower stage of tower which runs down below water level. At least two tiers of barred round-headed intake windows. Interior said to contain original operating machinery.  

Interior
 

Reason for designation
Graded II* as an integral part of one of the greatest civic engineering achievements of the C19. Group value.  

Cadw : Full Report for Listed Buildings [ Records 1 of 1 ]



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