Description and History of Site:-
Only a small covered reservoir remains on part of the original site. In 1853, the Bradford Corporation Water-Works applied to parliament for an act enabling the construction of a number of works including a storage reservoir at Heaton. Other elements in the wider scheme included abstraction of water from the northern margins of Burnsall Fell, an impounding reservoir on Barden Moor, a storage reservoir at Chelker (NYK01816) and an aqueduct (or conduit) linking these facilities. The contract for the construction of the reservoir at Heaton was let in April 1856 (to Messrs. Duckett and Stead, of Ripon and Arthington) and the reservoir was reported to be 'near completion' by September 1857. At that time the extent was said to be 10 or 12 acres (4-5 ha) and the capacity 30 million gallons (about 150,000 cubic metres). The reservoir was not fully brought into service until 1860, since there were difficulties and delays in the completion of the associated infrastructure (Barden Reservoir (NYK01817) and the conduit from there.
Initially fed by the Barden low level conduit from sources on Barden moor (the reservoir itself was not completed and brought into service until the mid 1870's), later also from Nidderdale via the Nidd aqueduct.
The reservoir was taken out of service, drained and mostly infilled in around 1990, a small portion on the western edge converted into a covered storage reservoir.
Further Reading and References:-Leatham, et. al., 1855-1955 Centenary, Bradford Corporation Water Department, 1955.
The Bradford Observer, 29th October 1857.
'The Engineer', 14th September 1900.
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Key Words :- water supply reservoir
Viewing the Site :- May be viewed from Wilmer Road
Address :- Wilmer Road, Heaton, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD9 4RT
Grid Ref :- SE 145 353
Co-ordinates :- Lat 53.813786 , Long -1.781263
Local Authority :- City of Bradford
Pre 1974 County :- Yorkshire - West Riding
Site Status :- Site extant - No Protection
Site Condition :- Operational site, in use for original purpose
Site Dates :- 1856 -
Record Date :- 8 June 2021
Copyright :- cc-by-nc-sa 4.0 © Nick Nelson
Grid Ref :- SE 145 353
Co-ordinates :- Lat 53.813786 , Long -1.781263
Local Authority :- City of Bradford
Pre 1974 County :- Yorkshire - West Riding
Site Status :- Site extant - No Protection
Site Condition :- Operational site, in use for original purpose
Site Dates :- 1856 -
Record Date :- 8 June 2021
Copyright :- cc-by-nc-sa 4.0 © Nick Nelson