Edgbaston Reservoir
Encyclopedia
Edgbaston Reservoir, originally known as Rotton Park Reservoir and referred to in some early maps as Rock Pool Reservoir, is a canal
feeder reservoir in the Ladywood
district of Birmingham
, England
. It is situated close to Birmingham City Centre and is a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation.
between 1824-1829 to supply water to the Birmingham and Wolverhampton Levels
of the Birmingham Canal Navigations
(BCN) canal system via Icknield Port Loop. It was excavated to a depth of 40 feet (12 m) and covers an area of 80 acres (323,748.8 m²), holding 300000000 Impgal of water, and was the largest expanse of water in Birmingham at the time. It is supplied by small streams and a feeder from Titford Reservoir (Titford Pools) in Oldbury. It was formed by damming a small stream. The dam is a 330 metre long earth embankment with a height of 10 metres near the centre.
The reservoir and gatehouse were designed by Thomas Telford and the latter is a listed building in corporate BCN octagonal style.
In 1873, it was crossed by Charles Blondin
, on a tightrope
. His feat is marked by a 1992 statue on the nearby Ladywood Middleway ring road.
In addition to supplying water to local canals, the reservoir is used for leisure activities including angling
, sailing
, windsurfing
, Canoeing
, Kayaking
and rowing
.
Edgbaston Reservoir is home to two rowing clubs, Birmingham Rowing Club
and the University of Birmingham Boat Club. Both clubs are housed within the same boathouse. The site has also been chosen to house a new Birmingham Schools rowing initiative, with the two afore mentioned clubs assisting in the running of the scheme. Birmingham Canoe Club also share the space during the summer months (June - September), paddling on the reservoir.
The Midland Sailing Club is based at Edgbaston Reservoir, and often race sailing boats around a marked course. Windsurfers also use the reservoir. Further to this, TS Vernon Sea Cadets
use the reservoir as a base.
The Reservoir is a good location for joggers, with a gravel and tarmac path all around its 1.75 mile (2.8 km) circumference. There are also work-out stations at various points providing frames for exercises such as pull-ups, or step-ups.
The fishing season runs from 16 June to 14 March each year. Licenses are available from Birmingham City Council Rangers and start at £1.90 per day.
During winter there can be strong, icy, northerly winds blowing over the city which can freeze the reservoir over due to its exposed northern side (where the dam is situated). In recent years the reservoir has frozen over in both January 2009 and 2010 to the extent it can be walked upon, although this is strongly discouraged.
In the summer the reservoir is often extremely busy with members of the public coming for picnics and walks around the reservoir's perimeter path.
Canal
Canals are man-made channels for water. There are two types of canal:#Waterways: navigable transportation canals used for carrying ships and boats shipping goods and conveying people, further subdivided into two kinds:...
feeder reservoir in the Ladywood
Ladywood
Ladywood is an inner-city area in Birmingham, England. It is a council constituency, managed by its own district committee. The constituency includes the smaller Ladywood ward and the wards of Aston, Nechells and Soho. In June 2004, Birmingham City Council conducted a city-wide "Ward Boundary...
district of Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is situated close to Birmingham City Centre and is a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation.
History
Originally a small pool named Roach Pool in Rotton Park it was extensively enlarged by Thomas TelfordThomas Telford
Thomas Telford FRS, FRSE was a Scottish civil engineer, architect and stonemason, and a noted road, bridge and canal builder.-Early career:...
between 1824-1829 to supply water to the Birmingham and Wolverhampton Levels
Water levels of the Birmingham Canal Navigations
The Birmingham Canal Navigations , a network of narrow canals in the industrial midlands of England, is built on various water levels. The three longest are the Wolverhampton, Birmingham, and Walsall levels. Locks allow boats to move from a canal on one level to one on another.Heights quoted are...
of the Birmingham Canal Navigations
Birmingham Canal Navigations
Birmingham Canal Navigations is a network of navigable canals connecting Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and the eastern part of the Black Country...
(BCN) canal system via Icknield Port Loop. It was excavated to a depth of 40 feet (12 m) and covers an area of 80 acres (323,748.8 m²), holding 300000000 Impgal of water, and was the largest expanse of water in Birmingham at the time. It is supplied by small streams and a feeder from Titford Reservoir (Titford Pools) in Oldbury. It was formed by damming a small stream. The dam is a 330 metre long earth embankment with a height of 10 metres near the centre.
The reservoir and gatehouse were designed by Thomas Telford and the latter is a listed building in corporate BCN octagonal style.
In 1873, it was crossed by Charles Blondin
Charles Blondin
Jean François Gravelet-Blondin was a French tightrope walker and acrobat.-Life:Blondin was born on 24 February 1824 at St Omer, Pas-de-Calais, France. His real name was Jean-François Gravelet, and he was known also by the names Charles Blondin or Jean-François Blondin, or more simply "The Great...
, on a tightrope
Tightrope walking
Tightrope walking is the art of walking along a thin wire or rope, usually at a great height. One or more artists performs in front of an audience or as a publicity stunt...
. His feat is marked by a 1992 statue on the nearby Ladywood Middleway ring road.
Leisure
Angling
Angling is a method of fishing by means of an "angle" . The hook is usually attached to a fishing line and the line is often attached to a fishing rod. Fishing rods are usually fitted with a fishing reel that functions as a mechanism for storing, retrieving and paying out the line. The hook itself...
, sailing
Dinghy sailing
Dinghy sailing is the activity of sailing small boats by using five essential controls:* the sails* the foils ....
, windsurfing
Windsurfing
Windsurfing or sailboarding is a surface water sport that combines elements of surfing and sailing. It consists of a board usually two to four metres long, powered by the orthogonal effect of the wind on a sail. The rig is connected to the board by a free-rotating universal joint and comprises a...
, Canoeing
Canoeing
Canoeing is an outdoor activity that involves a special kind of canoe.Open canoes may be 'poled' , sailed, 'lined and tracked' or even 'gunnel-bobbed'....
, Kayaking
Kayaking
Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving across water. Kayaking and canoeing are also known as paddling. Kayaking is distinguished from canoeing by the sitting position of the paddler and the number of blades on the paddle...
and rowing
Sport rowing
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
.
Edgbaston Reservoir is home to two rowing clubs, Birmingham Rowing Club
Birmingham Rowing Club
Birmingham Rowing Club is an amateur rowing club, based at Birmingham in England. It is situated on Edgbaston Reservoir in the centre of Birmingham. The club was founded in 1873 although there is reference to a Birmingham Soh club using the reservoir earlier in 1859.The club, which serves...
and the University of Birmingham Boat Club. Both clubs are housed within the same boathouse. The site has also been chosen to house a new Birmingham Schools rowing initiative, with the two afore mentioned clubs assisting in the running of the scheme. Birmingham Canoe Club also share the space during the summer months (June - September), paddling on the reservoir.
The Midland Sailing Club is based at Edgbaston Reservoir, and often race sailing boats around a marked course. Windsurfers also use the reservoir. Further to this, TS Vernon Sea Cadets
Sea Cadet Corps (United Kingdom)
The Sea Cadet Corps is a UK national youth organisation sponsored by the Royal Navy and open to young people between the ages of 10-18 years old. The SCC is the UK's largest Naval Cadet Force with over 30,000 cadets and adult volunteers...
use the reservoir as a base.
The Reservoir is a good location for joggers, with a gravel and tarmac path all around its 1.75 mile (2.8 km) circumference. There are also work-out stations at various points providing frames for exercises such as pull-ups, or step-ups.
The fishing season runs from 16 June to 14 March each year. Licenses are available from Birmingham City Council Rangers and start at £1.90 per day.
Weather
The reservoir usually has a gentle breeze across it due to the lack of large buildings or objects surrounding it, which makes it ideal for sailing.During winter there can be strong, icy, northerly winds blowing over the city which can freeze the reservoir over due to its exposed northern side (where the dam is situated). In recent years the reservoir has frozen over in both January 2009 and 2010 to the extent it can be walked upon, although this is strongly discouraged.
In the summer the reservoir is often extremely busy with members of the public coming for picnics and walks around the reservoir's perimeter path.
External links
- Birmingham City Council - Edgbaston Reservoir
- Birmingham City Council - history of reservoir
- Friends of Edgbaston Reservoir
- Series of articles on the reservoir's birds
- The University of Birmingham Boat Club website
- Edgbaston Watersport website
- The Midland Sailing Club website
- Birmingham's Industrial History Website