High Park Reservoir

Disused Victorian-era reservoir in Liverpool, England

High Park Reservoir (also known as Toxteth Reservoir) is a disused reservoir in the Toxteth district of Liverpool, England. Water for the reservoir was enclosed in a brick-built, sandstone-clad building. The building still stands and is opened to visitors for special occasions and events.

53°23′11″N 2°57′51″W / 53.3863°N 2.9643°W / 53.3863; -2.9643Opened1853Closed1997 (for use as a reservoir)DimensionsOther dimensions53.5 m (176 ft) x 67 m (220 ft)Technical detailsMaterialSandstone and brickDesign and constructionArchitect(s)Thomas Duncan[1]Other informationPublic transit accessBrunswick railway stationReferencesHistoric England, ref. 1279691

History

Opening in 1853, the reservoir provided fresh water to the rapidly growing city of Liverpool.[2] This was especially important given the prevalence of cholera at the time. The reservoir's height above parts of the city meant that it also provided a head of water for fighting fires at the city's docks.

Capable of holding approximately 2 million gallons, it was fed with fresh water from Rivington Pike in the West Pennine Moors and a spring in the Lodge Lane area of Liverpool. The building served as a reservoir for 140 years before its closure in 1997. It was given Grade II listed building status in June 1985.[3]

After a period of being left unused, the building has been used as a community space and events venue. It is not normally open to visitors, but there is an annual Heritage Day Open Event that allows people to see inside.[4] The building has proven useful as a location for filming, and has been used in Peaky Blinders.[5]

As part of Liverpool's Biennual celebrations in 2016, the building was used as an art installation for a piece by Rita McBride, called Portal.[6] In 2018 it was again used for an installation, called AURORA.[7]

Architecture

Historic England describe the building as: "Retaining wall and corner tower to reservoir. 1855. Probably T. Duncan. Snecked stone. Battered wall with top roll moulding, approximately 53.5m x 67m. Entrance with studded door at right hand end of main facade; plaque with Liver bird over. Round tower above has broaches, slits and corbelled top."[3]

The building has a flat roof, covered in grass, which offers good all round views of the city.

See also

Architecture of Liverpool

External links

  • Official website

References

  1. ^ Sharples & Pollard (2004), p. 273
  2. ^ Weston, Alan (1 August 2021). "Stunning reservoir and tower you can spot during Peaky Blinders". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  3. ^ a b "TOXTETH RESERVOIR, RETAINING WALLS AND CORNER TOWER, Non Civil Parish - 1279691 | Historic England". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  4. ^ Rand, Lisa (7 September 2019). "Chance to look inside Liverpool reservoir that's starred in Peaky Blinders". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  5. ^ Weston, Alan (1 August 2021). "Stunning reservoir and tower you can spot during Peaky Blinders". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  6. ^ "Toxteth Reservoir | Liverpool Biennial of Contemporary Art". www.biennial.com. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  7. ^ "Video: 'Walk on water' in an amazing immersive tour of Toxteth Reservoir". Liverpool Business News. 30 August 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2021.

Sources

  • Sharples, Joseph; Pollard, Richard (2004), Liverpool, Pevsner Architectural Guides, New Haven and London: Yale University Press, ISBN 0-300-10258-5