The old water tower is a historic water tower belonging to the municipal water supply network of Bydgoszcz, Poland. Its importance in the local history has been acknowledged in 1986 by a registering on the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship Heritage List.
The tower stands on the southern hills of the city, part of a green park, the municipal Henryk Dąbrowski Park (Polish: Park Henryka Dąbrowskiego w Bydgoszczy). Its formal location is 2 Filarecka street.
History
At the end of the 19th century, following the dramatic economic and demographic development of the city, necessary municipal investments had to be carried out, such as a gasworks plant (1860), horse-powered tram lines (1888), an electrical power plant (1896) and a water supply and sewage network (1890s). Till that time, people could only get water from wooden wells built in the 1880s for city districts away from the Brda river.[2]
In 1881, as Bromberg authorities started working on the design and construction of a new water supply and sewage network, first geological surveys began and a geological map of Bydgoszcz was issued. Specific construction works were carried out between 1898 and 1899,[3] laying down a network of 30 30 kilometres (19mi) of waterpipe up to the water tower.
In 1900, the city supply system comprised 20 deep wells in the northern municipal forest (Polish: Las Gdański) from which water was pumped out using a gas-driven contraption scheme into the network and the water tower. The network also included a 1,260 cubic metres (330,000USgal) capacity reservoir with a dual role:[4]
collecting water during the period of minimum consumption;
supplementing the network shortages during rush hour.
The present tower was erected from 1899 to 1900, on a design by architect Franz Marshall. The construction work was carried out by the firm Wilhelm Rothe & Cie.[5] The edifice location was chosen with care, on the edge of the city southern hill, overlooking the old town. In 1894, Lewin Louis Aronsohn became the administrator of the tower.
As a matter of fact, thanks to its situation, the tower was also regularly used as a city viewpoint. Before long, a viewing platform was constructed on the conical roof, which could be accessed for a fee of 10 pfennigs in Prussia time, then 10 grosze during interwar.[6]
After WWII, a pumping station was built next to the tower, allowing to supply water to the households on the heights of Bydgoszcz, for the districts of Błonie, Szwederowo, Wzgórze Wolności, Wyżyny, Kapuściska.[7] At that time, the vantage platform ceased to be used, before being finally decommisionned in 1990.[8]
In 1991, a rehabilitation of the building enabled the housing of the Water tower artistic Association (Polish: Stowarzyszenie Artystyczne Wieża Ciśnień), gathering together artists, art historians, critics and other people associated with Bydgoszcz cultural life. The tower became a meeting place for artistic exhibitions and happenings[9][10]
Today, the tower is the property of Bydgoszcz waterworks municipal company (Polish: Miejskie Wodociągi i Kanalizacja w Bydgoszczy). The firm has renovated and adapted the building for the benefit of the Bydgoszcz Waterworks History Museum (Polish: Muzeum Wodociągów w Bydgoszczy) which opened on 30 October 2012. The monument is now part of an educational trail starting at the historic pump station in the northern municipal forest district.[11] Inside the water tower are exhibited, among others, wooden waterpipes, ancient bathrooms, old toilets furnishings, archival pictures photos and documents. Multimedia kiosks with digitally saved information about city waterworks are also available to visitors.
The entire external building facade has been equipped with an advanced evolving illuminating system.[12] One of the tower level is devoted to temporary exhibitions. The 60 metres (200ft) high observation gallery has been refitted and enable visitors to enjoy a unique panorama view of Bydgoszcz old town.
Architecture
The water tower has a squat, brick cylindrical body with a strong reminiscence of neo-gothic forms. The tank was located in the top circular bay window. Outside cornices under the bay window and the bay window itself are richly decorated. All the openings display a lanceolate shape, highlighting the gothic inspiration.
The upper part containing the nonextant reservoir boasts high windows, an adorned attic, a pseudo-battlement and running motifsfriezes.[5] The gable roof is crowned with a conical roof topped by a ridge turret, enclosed by the round observation deck.
Part of the interior decoration is still visible: walls with wood panelling and colorful stained glass windows.[13]
The Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in Bydgoszcz is located in Bydgoszcz, Poland, on Wolności Square. Patron saints are Saint Peter and Saint Paul. The church, richly decorated with polychrome has been realized in 1957 by Władysław Drapiewski from Pelplin and Leon Drapniewski of Poznań; it has been registered on the Pomeranian Heritage List on 5 October 1971.
Drukarnia Dom Mody is a shopping mall in Bydgoszcz, Poland.
The building stands on the southern edge of the Gdansk Forest area of Bydgoszcz. It is a municipal building pumping underground water since 1900s. The ensemble is registered on the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship Heritage List.
Bernardyńska street is an historic axis of Bydgoszcz Old Town. It bears many historical buildings, of which several are listed on Kuyavian-Pomeranian Heritage list.
Podwale street is a historic path of Bydgoszcz old town.
The Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is a historical Roman Catholic building in downtown Bydgoszcz, Poland. It stands at 5 Piastowski Square, not far from Śniadecki Street in the city's downtown district. The church is registered on the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship Heritage List.
The Municipal Theatre of Bydgoszcz is a former theatre building which stood in Bydgoszcz, Poland from 1896 to 1946.
St. Martin and St. Nicholas Cathedral, or simply known as Bydgoszcz Cathedral, is a Catholic church built in the 15th century. It has a Gothic style, serves as a parish church and cathedral of the Diocese of Bydgoszcz. It also houses a shrine dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Its address is 10 Farna Street.
The Voivodeship and Municipal Public Library "Dr. Witold Bełza" in Bydgoszcz is housed in historical buildings located between the Stary Rynek and Długa street, registered on the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship Heritage List. It is the oldest (1903) library in activity in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship. Since 2002, it bears the name of Witold Bełza.
The main building of Bydgoszcz Music Academy is a historical edifice in downtown Bydgoszcz, dating back to the early 20th century. It is registered on the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship Heritage List.
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Bydgoszcz Old Market square is an oblong place, situated in the old town district of the city of Bydgoszcz. The City Hall flanks one of its side, and nearby is located St. Martin and St. Nicholas Cathedral.
Lewin Louis Aronsohn (1850–1928) was a German banker of Jewish origin. As a liberal politician, he was a member of the regional parliament of the Province of Posen, the Prussian House of Representatives and the Prussian Constitutional Assembly. In 1918, he has been given the title of Honorary Citizen of Bydgoszcz.
The Church of the Savior is a neo-Gothic Lutheran church in Bydgoszcz. Located on Savior Square along Warszawska Street, it was called Christ Church till 1945.
The Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help is a wood and brick Catholic church, located on the southern heights of Bydgoszcz in northern Poland, at 16 Ugory street.
Szwederowo is a district of the city of Bydgoszcz, Poland, located on its southern territory. Szwederowo population is the second largest of all Bydgoszcz districts.
Witold Stanisław Kazimierz Bełza was a Polish librarian, writer, publicist and cultural activist. He was the director of the Provincial and Municipal Public Library of Bydgoszcz from 1920 to 1939 and from 1945 to 1952.
Wincenty Witos Ludowy Park is a 6.42 hectares urban park in downtown district of Bydgoszcz, Poland.
Saint Stanislaus's Church is a wood and brick Catholic church, situated on the eastern side of Bydgoszcz, Poland. Located at 1 Kapliczna street, its patron saint is Stanislaus of Szczepanów. The building and part of its surroundings have been registered on the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship Heritage List since 1995.
↑ "Historia bydgoskich wodociągów". muzeum.mwik.bydgoszcz.pl. Muzeum historii wodociągów i kanalizacji w Polsce. 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
↑ Czajkowski, Edmund (1983). 460 lat bydgoskich wodociągów. Kalendarz Bydgoski (in Polish). Bydgoszcz: Towarzystwo Miłośników Miasta Bydgoszczy. pp.149–155. ISBN83-85860-37-1.
↑ Rapicki, Krzysztof (1996). Wodociągi, studnie publiczne, fontanny (in Polish). Bydgoszcz: Bydgoska Gospodarka Komunalna. ISBN83-85860-37-1.
1 2 Parucka, Krystyna (2008). Zabytki Bydgoszczy – minikatalog (in Polish). Bydgoszcz: „Tifen” Krystyna Parucka.
↑ Kuczma, Rajmund (1995). Zieleń w dawnej Bydgoszczy (in Polish). Bydgoszcz: Instytut Wydawniczy „Świadectwo”.
↑ Drzewiecki Stanisław, Legun Jerzy, Rybarska Gabriela (1996). Wodociągi i kanalizacja miasta Bydgoszczy 1900-1996 (in Polish). Bydgoszcz: Bydgoska Gospodarka Komunaln. ISBN83-85860-37-1.
↑ Miejskie Wodociągi i Kanalizacja w Poznaniu Sp. z o.o. Kalendarz Bydgoski (in Polish). Bydgoszcz: Towarzystwo Miłośników Miasta Bydgoszczy. 2007.
↑ Umiński, Janusz (2004). Bydgoszcz. Przewodnik (in Polish). Bydgoszcz: Wydawnictwo Uczelniane Wyższej Pomorskiej Szkoły Turystyki i Hotelarstwa w Bydgoszczy. ISBN83-914008-7-5.
Bibliography
Pastuszewski, Stefan (1996). Bydgoska Gospodarka Komunalna (in Polish). Bydgoszcz: Instytut Wydawniczy „Świadectwo”. ISBN83-85860-37-1.
Czajkowski, Edmund (1983). 460 lat bydgoskich wodociągów. Kalendarz Bydgoski (in Polish). Bydgoszcz: Towarzystwo Miłośników Miasta Bydgoszczy. pp.149–155. ISBN8385860371.
Parucka, Krystyna (2008). Zabytki Bydgoszczy – minikatalog (in Polish). Bydgoszcz: „Tifen” Krystyna Parucka.
Umiński, Janusz (2004). Bydgoszcz. Przewodnik (in Polish). Bydgoszcz: Wydawnictwo Uczelniane Wyższej Pomorskiej Szkoły Turystyki i Hotelarstwa w Bydgoszczy. ISBN8391400875.
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