Water-fed tower in Kolomenskoye is a unique engineering structure of the XVII century. The main purpose of the tower was to lift the water in the upper part of the tower and, using the principle of communicating vessels, serve it on the Sovereign Courtyard. In addition to its main function, the tower also served as a gateway to the Ascension garden.
The uniqueness of the Water-fed Tower consists both in its original architectural appearance and in the preserved element of the 17th century water-diverting system – a white stone vaulted basin with two pipes from it.
Definite information about the time of construction of the tower has not been preserved, but it is most likely that the construction of a water pipe in Kolomenskoye could begin not earlier than the end of the construction of the palace and economic services for its provision, i.e. in the 1670-1680.
After the transfer of the capital of the state to Petersburg and the crossing of the courtyard to the banks of the Neva River, the royal residences of Moscow and the Moscow region fell into disrepair and desolation. Complex water-pressure structures, used in the construction of the tower, required constant maintenance in a satisfactory condition. With rare use and a shortage of funds for restoration work, they quickly became dilapidated.
Works on the restoration of the tower were carried out during the XIX – XX centuries. The last restoration and adaptation of the interior of the tower to the exposition with the recreated historical space was carried out in 2007-2008.
