Located on the corner of Beeches and Golf Street in the north east Fife town of Ladybank, the old Ladybank Water Tower is an imposing and impressive sight. Erected in 1908 it formed part of the Ladybank Waterworks and housed a pumping station. It is fair to say that this structure has long been the most publically visible part of the works serving this former railway town.
Two storeys high, with a water tank concealed on top, the tower is built of red brick with many interesting architectural features, including large round headed arches on all sides and carvings of its name and construction date above the main door, on the east facade.
It sits within a small fenced area of land adjacent to the road junction and, now owned by Scottish Water, remains in use to this day as part of the public water supply. The tower is a category B listed building.
Ladybank owes its existence to the railways. The town’s station opened in 1847 on the Edinburgh and Northern Railway and sat at the junction where the line split, one arm extending north to Perth, the other east to Dundee. While the junction remains and the station is still open to passengers, the town’s once extensive goods yards, engine sheds, sidings and wagon works have long since gone, consigned to the history books.
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