Despite the fact that here are plenty of photos on the web, including two permission visits on here
https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/toxteth-reservoir-sept-16.105248/
https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/toxteth-reservoir-11th-september-2015.99251/
I have always wanted to have a look inside this place myself, but never seem to notice or be around when its open to the public (once a year during heritage day).
Description (http://hiddenliverpool.org.uk/memories/map/item/111-toxteth-reservoir). “… a vast, solidly built, rectangular structure enclosing approximately 2600 m2 with a tower at one corner. It has massive external walls of sandstone that decrease in thickness with height, brick floors and high vaulted brick ceilings supported on cast iron columns. A series of brick columns and arches form a ‘cloister’ around the main space. The roof is covered in earth.…”
Potted history. One of the earliest examples of public health engineering, built in 1855 to provide the the Dingle area of Liverpool with clean water (https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1279691). In a typical display of large scale Victorian engineering the water was piped to Liverpool from far away sources including the Pennines, Wales and the river Dee. The reservoir was used for water storage until 1997 and has stood empty ever since.
The first attempt at access was an early morning assault on the roof to see if any hatches were open, aided and abetted by junior. No joy here, everything battened down rather securely, but some nice views.
And there things stood until one day I saw a van parked outside the main door with people starting to unpack stuff from the back. It turned out to be a film crew, setting up to film an episode of the channel 4 series ‘Hunted’. Nobody seemed to care I was there so while they were arguing about 16 vs 32 amp fuses I did a quick circuit. Inside its like being in the basement of a typical 19th century Liverpool warehouse, just damper and slightly misty. All photos are handheld on auto.
Down two of the ‘cloisters’ around the edges.
A pair of granite chutes in one corner where the water originally came down from the tower. I still don’t know what the purpose of the tower is - the reservoir in Woolton (still in use) also has a little tower. According to a comment on a previous thread it contained filters as well as a standpipe although more recently the water entered by the pipe coming down next to the ginormous ballcock/float valve (water comes in through the holes in the tank to raise an internal float).
Cistern mechanism linked to input pipe and the overflow opening nearby.
Looking up a chute and a flight of stairs in the opposite corner. I really wanted to clamber up these things to see what’s at the top, but the film crew were starting to lug in lighting equipment at this stage and it would have looked suspicious.
Finally a big plug hole in the middle (for draining the reservoir) and exit sluices next to the stairs.
There have been various proposals to develop the reservoir into some type of community space. At present its occasionally used for art displays as well as a film location.
https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/toxteth-reservoir-sept-16.105248/
https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/toxteth-reservoir-11th-september-2015.99251/
I have always wanted to have a look inside this place myself, but never seem to notice or be around when its open to the public (once a year during heritage day).
Description (http://hiddenliverpool.org.uk/memories/map/item/111-toxteth-reservoir). “… a vast, solidly built, rectangular structure enclosing approximately 2600 m2 with a tower at one corner. It has massive external walls of sandstone that decrease in thickness with height, brick floors and high vaulted brick ceilings supported on cast iron columns. A series of brick columns and arches form a ‘cloister’ around the main space. The roof is covered in earth.…”
Potted history. One of the earliest examples of public health engineering, built in 1855 to provide the the Dingle area of Liverpool with clean water (https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1279691). In a typical display of large scale Victorian engineering the water was piped to Liverpool from far away sources including the Pennines, Wales and the river Dee. The reservoir was used for water storage until 1997 and has stood empty ever since.
The first attempt at access was an early morning assault on the roof to see if any hatches were open, aided and abetted by junior. No joy here, everything battened down rather securely, but some nice views.
And there things stood until one day I saw a van parked outside the main door with people starting to unpack stuff from the back. It turned out to be a film crew, setting up to film an episode of the channel 4 series ‘Hunted’. Nobody seemed to care I was there so while they were arguing about 16 vs 32 amp fuses I did a quick circuit. Inside its like being in the basement of a typical 19th century Liverpool warehouse, just damper and slightly misty. All photos are handheld on auto.
Down two of the ‘cloisters’ around the edges.
A pair of granite chutes in one corner where the water originally came down from the tower. I still don’t know what the purpose of the tower is - the reservoir in Woolton (still in use) also has a little tower. According to a comment on a previous thread it contained filters as well as a standpipe although more recently the water entered by the pipe coming down next to the ginormous ballcock/float valve (water comes in through the holes in the tank to raise an internal float).
Cistern mechanism linked to input pipe and the overflow opening nearby.
Looking up a chute and a flight of stairs in the opposite corner. I really wanted to clamber up these things to see what’s at the top, but the film crew were starting to lug in lighting equipment at this stage and it would have looked suspicious.
Finally a big plug hole in the middle (for draining the reservoir) and exit sluices next to the stairs.
There have been various proposals to develop the reservoir into some type of community space. At present its occasionally used for art displays as well as a film location.
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