Kinnaber Water Works (Former), Hillside

Large, distinctive 9- x 3-bay, symmetrical, gabled former water filter plant with prominent crenellated tower to N. Red brick in Flemish Garden Wall bond. Base course, raised cills. Bays with almost full-height, slightly recessed panels, separated by pilaster strips. Segmental-arched window openings to N and S elevations. Gable elevations to E & W with decorative sawtooth design at wallhead. E gable with dedication plaque (see below). Some timber sliding doors. Some single-storey lean-tos to S. Windows mainly boarded: some multi-pane timber sashes remain. Roof mainly with grey and purple slates: some asbestos roofing. Some rooflights with broken glazing.

This is a well-detailed former water filter plant which is distinguished by its crenellated tower. The decorative brick detailing is notable and adds a distinction to the former industrial building. The building is situated on a small hill to the North of Montrose and has some presence in the distant landscape. It is likely that the central 4-bays together with the tower were built in 1910 and the other flanking bays added in the 1960s.

The 1st Edition Ordnance Survey Map of 1868 depicts a reservoir at this site, and with further Kinnaber Water Works buildings to the East, at the opposite side of a railway. By the map of 1927, 2 reservoirs and a filter house are depicted on this site and there is a pumping station to the East. It seems likely that as the town of Montrose expanded, so did the requirement for clean water and this led to the building of this water filter.

The importance of providing clean drinking water to every household became particularly pertinent after cholera was discovered to have been linked to the drinking of impure water in the mid 19th century. Water filter plants and towers were often fine municipal structures and some were focal points in the landscape, such as at Cambusbarron, near Stirling. At Whittinghame in East Lothian , the filter station is set into the hillside to complement the landscape. (Historic Scotland)

December 1997: The building is surplus to requirements, and although apparently to be marketed, it now stands boarded-up. November 2003: Local planners report no change. December 2003: Historic Scotland reports that the building may no longer be in the ownership of Scottish Water and may have been sold at auction in 2002. May 2005: Local planners report that they are unaware of any change.

June 2009: External inspection finds the building to be in relatively good condition (although suffering from a lack of general maintenance) however, vandalism and the encroaching woods are having a negative effect.

April 2011: The building is listed, category C(s), by Historic Scotland.

January 2012: Full planning permission and listed building consent for conversion of the former waterworks into two dwellings has been conditionally approved ref: 11/00388/FULL & 11/00434/LBC.

23 October 2012: External inspection finds no significant change from the previous site visit.

11 June 2014: Listed Building Consent for internal alterations to form a dwelling is currently being sougt ref: 14/00420/LBC.

25 February 2015: A member of the public advises some clearing works appear to be underway at the site, presumably in anticipation of future conversion works. Listed Building Consent for conversion to form a single dwelling was conditionally approved Oct 2014 ref: 14/00420/LBC. A Building Warrant for conversion of the property to form a dwelling is under consideration ref: 14/00874/DOM2. An application to vary condition of 11/00388/FULL (conversion to form 2 dwellings) to extend planning permission for three further years is being sought ref: 15/00012/FULL.

13 January 2016: A member of the public notes various works have been carried out at the property over 2015

7 June 2016: External inspection finds the property has been re-roofed. Windows remains mostly boarded over. Condition moved to Fair. An application to extend planning permission 11/00388/FULL for a further three years was conditionally approved Mar 2015 ref: 15/00012/FULL.

6 December 2018: Restoration works at the former works are understood to be underway, moved to Restoration in Progress.