Rotton Park Reservoir

Telford's solution to the water supply problem was the construction of a reservoir just below the confluence of three brooks in Roach Pool. He wrote 'In a dingle adjacent to the town of Birmingham I constructed a reservoir of 80 acres water surface and 45 feet deep at the head or retaining bank above the now reduced summit level, so that all the water was serviceable'. The great earthen dam was made between 1825 and '27, the Telford Cut itself being comple-ted in '29. As the reservoir filled, drowning Roach Pool and spreading out on both sides of the parish boundary, it extended up the tributary valleys. A brick keeper's house was built at the entrance to the Company's land, on a site high enough for the whole pool to be seen from it : in appearance it is very like a Telford tollhouse. A pumping station was built at the dam's south end.

Telford's costly works were adequate for a short time only. Now that boats could move unhindered the manners of their crews improved greatly ! But traffic increased so rapidly that still more water was required than the reservoir could supply. In 1830 16 acres of land about it were bought so that the water level could be raised, and two years later a brick wall was completed along the inner face of the dam. This was raised and lengthened during the decade to accommodate water from enlarged pools at Titford, which came by tunnel and aqueduct to the northern bay (near Selwyn / Gillott Roads). It crosses Shireland Brook just off Shenstone Road. 'Portland Brook' was diverted into it. Two wheel-operated valves can be opened to feed water to the Brindley Cut's Ladywood Loop from the reser-voir : at the south end of the dam, where the pumping station used to be, there is a spillway for flood-water. To supply the Smeaton summit after the abandon-ment of Smethwick Great Reservoir a feeder from Rotton Park was led to the Engine Branch which supplied the Wolverhampton Level (Smeaton summit) by pumping.

Brindley's loops were lined with factories, wharves, and short branches : they were improved to Telford's standards where possible, but dual towpaths could rarely be provided. The reservoir has known many variations in level. Hot dry summers cause it to shrink remarkably, and sometimes it must be drained for re-pair work. The City has owned it for more three decades, and it is a prized amenity so close to centre : more might be made of it, however, as there are no boats for hire, rowing, canoeing, and sailing being firmly in the hands of clubs. But anyone can walk the l½ mile circuit of this most attractive lake.