High Park Reservoir
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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.
| High Park Reservoir | |
|---|---|
.JPG) High Park Reservoir, as seen in 2013 | |
 | |
| Alternative names | Toxteth Reservoir |
| General information | |
| Status | Not used for water storage since 1997, now used as an events space |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Classification | Grade II listed |
| Address | High Park Street, Toxteth, L8 |
| Town or city | Liverpool |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 53°23′11″N 2°57′51″W / 53.3863°N 2.9643°W |
| Opened | 1853 |
| Closed | 1997 (for use as a reservoir) |
| Dimensions | |
| Other dimensions | 53.5 m (176 ft) x 67 m (220 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Material | Sandstone and brick |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Thomas Duncan[1] |
| Other information | |
| Public transit access | Brunswick railway station |
| References | |
| Historic England, ref. 1279691 | |
History[edit]
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[edit]
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[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Sharples & Pollard (2004), p. 273
- ^ Weston, Alan (1 August 2021). "Stunning reservoir and tower you can spot during Peaky Blinders". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
- ^ a b "TOXTETH RESERVOIR, RETAINING WALLS AND CORNER TOWER, Non Civil Parish - 1279691 | Historic England". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
- ^ Rand, Lisa (7 September 2019). "Chance to look inside Liverpool reservoir that's starred in Peaky Blinders". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
- ^ Weston, Alan (1 August 2021). "Stunning reservoir and tower you can spot during Peaky Blinders". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
- ^ "Toxteth Reservoir | Liverpool Biennial of Contemporary Art". www.biennial.com. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
- ^ "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