EVER wondered what the Balkerne Tower - better known as Jumbo - looks like inside?

Old pictures of the vast disused tower show a rare glimpse of the building which has stood proudly over Colchester since 1882. 

In its long, and at times, controversial history, Jumbo has been lit up, abseiled down, adorned with political and religious slogans and even immortalised in chocolate. 

Here's a potted history of the tower, which still stands empty despite numerous re-imaginings as a restaurant, flats, a climbing and abseiling venue or a simple public monument. 

1882: The water tower is built and nicknamed Jumbo – after an ugly zoo

elephant

1974: The ownership of the tower is transferred to Anglian Water under

local government reorganisation

1987/88: Jumbo stops being part of the water system and is put on the

market for £100,000. It is bought by a property developer, then sold to a

Christian group for use as a prayer tower

1995: Square Foot Properties buys Jumbo for £86,000 and reveals plans

to enclose its legs in glass and convert it into flats. The firm’s plans are turned down by Colchester Council

1998: Victory Gate Properties buys Jumbo and submits plans to replace

the water tank with a glazed penthouse

1999/2000: The plan is rejected, as are two further applications

2001: Planning inquiry hears appeals against refusal and allows two of the

schemes, subject limited public access

2006: With less than a year left on the planning permission no work has been done. Jumbo is sold for £330,000 to George Braithwaite. Planning permission is extended, then withdrawn

2009: Mr Braithwaite applies to turn Jumbo into flats, a restaurant and offices

2011: The application is refused.

2013: Similar plans, but with a museum in the tank, are submitted

2014: Paul Flatman buys Jumbo for £190,000