Cropston Reservoir
Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox body of water Template:OSM Location map Cropston Reservoir (originally known as Bradgate 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 northwest of Leicester. It is part of the Template:Convert Bradgate Park and Cropston Reservoir Site of Special Scientific Interest.<ref name=dsv>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=map>Template:Cite web</ref>
London-based consulting engineer Thomas Hawksley was appointed by Leicester Water Works in 1865 to carry out the surveying work. In September 1867, Template:Convert of land adjacent to the deer park at Bradgate Park was purchased from the Earl of Stamford for a cost of £24,000.<ref name="Elliott">Elliott, Malcolm (2010) Victorian Leicester, Amberley, Template:ISBN, p. 128</ref> A stone wall 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 Template:Convert long and rises to a height of Template:Convert at its highest point, which gives a depth of water of Template:Convert.<ref name="Visit">Template:Cite news</ref> The cost of the dam was £41,356 and the reservoir £8,500 with the contract being awarded to Benton & Woodiwiss of Derby.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The reservoir was completed in 1870.<ref name="Elliott" /> The dam was originally constructed from a mixture of siliceous sand and clay, but as water was found to be leaking through it, it was rebuilt and now extends Template:Convert below the surface.<ref name="Visit" /> Water from the reservoir was piped to four large filter beds.<ref name="Visit" /> It was then pumped to an elevation matching the supply from Thornton Reservoir so that the supplies from the two reservoirs could be merged.<ref name="Visit" />
The reservoir is formed by the River Lin and is owned and managed by Severn Trent. The growing population of Leicester and surrounding areas meant that by the late 19th century the reservoirs in Leicestershire were no longer adequate to meet demand, and water is now piped from Ladybower Reservoir to Cropston.<ref>"Water bosses plan huge pipeline", BBC, 20 October 2008. Retrieved 2 July 2014</ref>
