Water Towers: A water tower maintains a large quantity of water at a
height that creates sufficient pressure to maintain an even supply and
distribution of the water through the pipes. Water towers are often
associated with the supply of water from a deep well which, in the case of
a prison, asylum or similar large institution, may be its independent water
supply, and an aspect of self-sufficiency.
Writing in 1908, R.H. Firth said:
"At one time deep wells were a common source of supply for towns. Borings
made into the chalk and New Red Sandstone yielded an excellent water, which
was pumped up into large tanks placed at the top of a water-tower, so as to
obtain the necessary head. In some cases, however, it was found extremely
difficult to meet the requirements of steadily growing towns; borings could
not be increased indefinitely as each one drained a considerable area, and
wells sunk in gravel-beds are now being given up for the supply of large
towns, but are still retained for small communities, such as prisons,
asylums, etc." (R.H.
Firth 1908 p.49)
See Bexley (1898),
Brookwood (1867),
Cane
Hill (1883),
Caterham (1870),
Severalls (1913) (tower and chimney
explained)
Kathleen Jones 12 reasons why
Enoch Powell was wrong.
1. The actual decline in resident populations is smaller than it appears to
be.
2. The existing beds are not yet even adequate to the need.
3. The decline is unlikely to continue indefinitely of its own momentum.
4. The growth in the community services is not likely to be adequate in the
next few years to deal with a major reduction in the mental hospital
population.
5. The development of psychiatric units in general hospitals provides a
valuable means of treating some patients, but is unsuitable for the
majority.
6. A family-centred service must be prepared to admit patients to hospital
on social as well as medical criteria.
7. Public tolerance of mental disorder has increased in the last few years,
but may decrease again.
8. Full employment reduces the mental hospital population: trade recessions
decrease it.
9. Past experience shows that new provisions reveal new demands.
10. Mental hospitals are at present carrying a greater volume of work than
at any time in their history.
11. The demand for 'the decline of the mental hospital' springs largely
from irrational and unacknowledged sources.
12. Dispersal of limited resources is ultimately more expensive and less
efficient than concentration.