As the dawn of a new era approaches Deepcut, a symbolic structure that stood as a testament to the times is being brought down. The Water Tower, a distinct feature of the Deepcut skyline, estimated to have been erected in the late 1960s or early ’70s as a key part of the infrastructure at Princes Royal Barracks, commenced its demolition today by SKANSKA, stirring up a torrent of nostalgia and a touch of sadness amongst the local residents.
The Water Tower, while not adorned with architectural flamboyance, has been an unwavering companion to the residents of Deepcut and personnel who lived and served in the barracks. Its utilitarian structure has overseen countless recruits, significant life events, and training courses. It’s no wonder that social media is buzzing with reminiscences, with one local resident poignantly exclaiming, “I just wanna cry!”.
However, the decision to dismantle the tower did not come lightly or without consultation. When the Ministry of Defence declared the barracks obsolete and surplus to requirements, opening the path for residential development, the community’s sentiment was sought. Workshops with Deepcut residents revealed a consensus that the Water Tower held little to no architectural merit. At the time, few, if any, voices championed its preservation.
Since the barracks’ closure, the tower has inadvertently become a magnet for urban exploration, with daredevil content creators immortalising their trespassing and the vistas from the tower’s peak on video-sharing platforms like YouTube.
Interestingly, not all documentation of the tower has been through unsanctioned adventures. The MOD once granted me access just a few weeks before the last soldier (The Quarter Master) left the camp to capture the site for a photography set, yielding an outpouring of emotions and memories from people across the globe connected to the barracks. My Facebook page became a digital congregation spot, as ex-servicemen and women shared their stories. One individual messaged me to recount a personal tale where her partner proposed beneath the very silhouette of the water tower—highlighting that its concrete form is interwoven with personal narratives and profound life moments.
Yet, it’s crucial to acknowledge that for some, the tower may evoke profound sadness, reminding them of the dark history connected to “Deepcut Barracks”. One person remarked on my photo set “A truly awful place, with so many secrets to tell. Full of bullies and those that turned a blind eye…”
In essence, the Water Tower’s demolition is not merely a physical act but a symbolic one, signalling the end of an era and the beginning of another. As Deepcut transitions, it is an opportune moment to reflect on the dual nature of such landmarks. They stand as silent observers of history and individual stories yet may also become relics that need to make way for progress.
It’s human nature to become attached to the structures that define our daily landscape. They become anchors for our memories, tying us to moments both monumental and mundane. The Water Tower’s demolition has pried open a treasure chest of such memories.
Today, as the demolition continues, we are reminded that the Water Tower was an unassuming historian, keeping a silent record of the lives that unfolded in its shadow. While it may not have been preserved in the physical realm, the Water Tower of Deepcut will persist in the digital world and in the shared memories of a community. And as the dust settles, perhaps what we’ll see is not just the end of a structure, but the elevation of a symbol—a reminder that the places we inhabit become part of us, echoing in the collective memory long after they’re gone.
Paul Deach 
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