Cropston Reservoir

Cropston Reservoir
Location	Leicestershire
Coordinates	52°41′37.07″N 1°11′38.68″W / 52.6936306°N 1.1940778°W / 52.6936306; -1.1940778Coordinates: 52°41′37.07″N 1°11′38.68″W / 52.6936306°N 1.1940778°W / 52.6936306; -1.1940778
Lake type	reservoir
Primary inflows	River Lin
Primary outflows	River Lin
Basin countries	United Kingdom
Settlements	Cropston

Cropston Reservoir lies in Charnwood Forest in Leicestershire, England. The dam and associated water works are in Cropston, while the bulk of the reservoir is in the neighbouring Newtown Linford parish. It was opened in May 1871 in a corner of Bradgate Park, a large expanse of open land just northwest of Leicester. grid reference SK545110

Cropston Reservoir viewed from Bradgate Park

London-based consulting engineer, Thomas Hawksley, was appointed by Leicester Water Works in 1865 to carry out the surveying work. In September 1867, 180 acres of land was purchased adjacent to the deer park at Bradgate Park for a cost of £24,000. A stonewall was built by George Rudkin around the boundary to separate the deer park from the reservoir, at a cost of 8s 10d per yard. The dam is 760 yards long and rises to a height of 51 feet at its highest point, which gives a depth of water of 38 feet. The cost of the dam was £41,356 and the reservoir £8,500 with the contract being awarded to Benton & Woodiwiss of Derby. ^[1]

The reservoir is formed by the River Lin and is owned and managed by Severn Trent.

References

1. ^ http://www.leicestershirevillages.com/cropston/buildingcropstonreservoir.html