OneGuyFromBarlick

A brewery perhaps? They operated by gravity from the top downwards in a multi-storey building. Mill the malted barley at the top, the grist falls into a grist case on the floor below, which then empties into the mash tun on a further lower level. The sweet wort from the mash tun drains down into the copper, from which the hopped wort drains into a hop back and then down again into the fermentation vats. The finished beer drains down again to the bottling plant or to cask filling. Raw materials were stored on the appropriate levels, malted barley at the top, hops and sugars at an intermediate level. The old breweries had boilers to heat the water and a steam engine to provide power.

I'm thinking more on the lines of steel works.

China is closest to the answer, water wheels are the clue. But what's different about this picture?
Big clue, it's at Lumbutts in the West Riding. You are almost there!

Water wheels above each other. Was it owned by Fieldens family?

Well - I've just had an interesting virtual hour in Lumbutts. Still trying to work out how the water got to the top of the tower. I guess from an even higher reservoir. One website says each wheel had a separate supply. Why not just let the top one supply the ones below? Still had its potential energy?

Been trying, but failed to find out what the current situation is. Doesn't seem the appeal for restoration funds was successful. I think the Fielden family should encourage a wider membership perhaps. Some good walks for Sue here? and not too far away. Make a change from Healey Dell.

I remember Hardcastle Crags which was a destination for a 'run out' when we first got the Ford Consul in 1956. Had my first cream tea there, and picked wild bilberries.

Indulge me. . .

Gloria got it, and yes it's superimposed water wheels. The only other place where I have seen this is in underground water wheels in mines.
Next for shaving?

Tripps, I don't think the water needs a feed to the top, if it feeds the bottom one and the next one up is meshed to that etc.

From, "Graces Guide" https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Lumbutts_Mill

That's a very clear and accurate description of the wheel tower Bodge.

Fascinating! Bodger's link explains it. Tripps is right, the water was coming `from an even higher reservoir' but via an inverted syphon rather than a leat. So there would have been pipes from the three reservoirs to each appropriate wheel. The pipes could have been underground from the reservoir, up the side of the tower and in at the right level, as long as that level was at or below the level of water in the reservoir. Probably the pipes in each case took water from a subsidiary, small reservoir tank which was kept constantly topped up from the main reservoir so as to maintain a constant hydrostatic pressure.

A special treat for the New Year! Two views of the same location. What is the pillared structure on the left of both photos?

For retting flax?

A wharf for loading/unloading cargo that had to be kept dry?

Both wrong. Keep trying!

A movable floating fishing platform for 5 star hotel.

A “drive-through” for boats...such as you see at McDonalds.

Water intake pond for a town's supply?

Those cone shaped structures intrigue me, on both pics. Looks as though a boat can sail under the canopy. Why are those pillars so heavy? Lifting gear?
Baffled of Barlick....

Looks like a railway station for barges?
Is something being dropped in from above and the shaped "netting" is to stop it dropping in the water? Coal, limestone, charcoal, wood?

None of the above but Stanley is getting warm! Ignore those `cone shaped structures' and think about what he has written.

Is it a dry dock?

Is it a special estate, maybe VIP’s or Royalty use it?

Is it for lifting barges up to clean underneath?

Nothing to do with VIPs etc, Cathy. Wendy is getting warm, and Gloria warmer still! Almost there now...

For raising the boat to deal with the rudder and propeller?