The conservative renovation of the structure made it possible to see it as a monument of technical architecture of the early 20th century, with an interesting slender form, with a preserved traffic system inside, though, unfortunately, without water supply equipment. The tower, which is an excellent viewpoint overlooking the valley of the Nysa Kłodzka river, is intended to serve as a small local museum. Today, visitors can view the first exhibits related to the history of the village and the surrounding area.

History

The water tower was built around 1910 in a grange owned by the Kerssenbrock family, near their summer palace. Along with the neighbouring pumping station, it served distillery with a cereal making pant (the distillery did not survive World War 2). When in 1976 the tower ceased to be used in 1976, its gradual devastation began; the hydrotechnical interior components, including a water tank, were removed.

Since 1997, the tower has been again a significant feature in the landscape of the village through the efforts of the new owners. Around 2010, it underwent repairs. The repairs involved replacing the components of the roof structure (preserving beams with the original carpentry marks) to the extent necessary and restoring the ceramic cladding. The damaged top section of the tower was secured as a museum exhibit, and its copy was mounted at the top. The windows that were once bricked-up have been reproduced based on the preserved ones. The plaster was complemented by a simple decorative detail in the form of surrounds of the window openings.

In 2013, the jury of the nationwide "Well-Preserved Monument" competition appreciated the quality of the renovation work carried out by the owners and awarded the water tower in Skorogoszcz with commendation in the category "Industrial Architecture and Technical Heritage".

Description

The water tower which was formerly part of the distillery complex is located in the western part of the village, on the site formerly occupied by a distillery in a grange, the only remnant of which is an abandoned cereal making plant and a pumping station next to the tower, adapted for residential purposes. The slender round brick tower tapering towards the top is surmounted by an octagonal concrete capital once housing a water tank, and a tall octagonal roof clad with roof tiles. The unplastered façade is enlivened by lesenes in the lower part and stepped cornices. Rectangular window openings are unevenly distributed. The polygonal top section is plastered and is pierced by three storeys of windows.

The interior lacks hydrotechnical equipment. However, it features the preserved stairs and supports on which the tank rested. The wooden roof truss is open and partly consists of original components.

The structure is a private property.

compiled by Joanna Szot, Regional Branch of the National Heritage Board of Poland in Opole, 21-07-2014.