People from Reading know they are near home when they are coming eastbound along the M4 and they can see the top of the tower.

It is a prominent landmark in the vicinity and, located on the Tilehurst ridge line, can be seen from a considerable distance, especially when approaching Reading from the west along the M4 motorway.

[1] The tower was erected by Reading Borough Council in 1932, in order to supplement the existing Bath Road Reservoir and supply water to properties at a higher level than the earlier water tower there.

[1][2][3][4] In November 2018 the tower was illuminated in poppy red to mark 100 years since the end of the First World War.

The tower remained illuminated, and visible at night from a wide area, until Remembrance Day on 11 November.