VODOVZVODNAYA TOWER

The Vodovzvodnaya (literally 'water supplying') Tower is the southwest corner tower of the Kremlin. It was built in 1488 by the architect Anton Fryazin. The tower was especially important in the system of the Kremlin defence, as it protected the ford and the Neglinnaya River's mouth. It was named after the boyar family Sviblo whose representatives were responsible for its construction.

The Vodovzvodnaya Tower had a well and a hiding place to access the river. In 1633 Christopher Galovey arranged a lifting machine in the tower, which pumped water through leady pipes to the gardens on the upland side of the Kremlin. In 1672-1686 the structure had a tiered top with a hipped roof. The dampness from the well gradually penetrated the masonry, destroying the tower. In 1770 V. Bazhenov proposed to tear it down but did not get permission. However, in 1805-1806 the tower had to be taken down to the very foundations and then put up again, which was realized according to the project of I.V. Egotov.

In 1812 the Vodovzvodnaya Tower was blown up by the French. In 1817-1819 it was rebuilt under the supervision of O.I. Bove with some classical and pseudo-Gothic details added to its decoration.

The massive lower cylinder of the tower is rusticated, completed with decorative machicolations and slit by large windows. The upper multifaceted tier is topped by a slender marquee with dormers. The main round inner volume of the tower has two tiers with domed ceilings. Above the upper fighting platform there raises the marquee, opened to the top. In 1937 its top was crowned with a ruby star.

The height of the tower until the star is 57.7 metres, with the star - 61.25 metres.