Bessborough Reservoir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bessborough Reservoir |
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Input station for Bessborough and Knight Reservoirs
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 Bessborough Reservoir
Location in Surrey
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| Location | Surrey |
| Coordinates | 51°24′5.9″N 0°23′10.1″W / 51.401639°N 0.386139°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Basin countries | United Kingdom |
| Water volume | 5.45 Gl (1.20×109 imp gal) |
The Bessborough Reservoir is a large, man-made lake located in Surrey, England. It sits south of the River Thames and is right next to the Knight Reservoir. To its south, you'll find the Queen Elizabeth II Reservoir, and to the north are the Molesey Reservoirs, which are no longer used.
A road called the A3050 runs along the north side of the reservoir. The nearby town of Molesey is to the east. This reservoir helps create a "green buffer" area between Molesey and Walton-on-Thames. The Bessborough Reservoir is part of the Borough of Elmbridge.
History of Bessborough Reservoir
The Bessborough and Knight Reservoirs were first planned by a company called the Southwark and Vauxhall Waterworks Company. Their main operations were across the river in Hampton. Building work started in 1898. The reservoirs were built on land that used to be a large estate called Apps Court, which had a mansion and farms.
The Metropolitan Water Board took over the project in 1902. This board became responsible for supplying water to London. The reservoirs officially opened in 1907. Together, the Bessborough and Knight reservoirs cover an area of about 125.5 acres (0.5 square kilometers). They can hold a lot of water, about 1,198 million imperial gallons (5.45 billion liters).
Here are some details about the Knight and Bessborough reservoirs:
| Parameter | Knight Reservoir | Bessborough Reservoir |
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| Capacity | 2,180 Mega litres | 3,260 Ml |
| Surface area | 20.8 ha | 30 ha |
| Perimeter | 1,800 m | 2,000 m |
| Total excavation | 1.15 million cubic metres | |
| Puddle clay used | 153,000 cubic metres | |
| Concrete | 57,000 cubic metres | |
The walls that hold the water in (called embankments) have a special core made of "puddle clay." This clay goes deep down into the natural blue London Clay layer beneath the ground. This helps make sure the walls are strong and don't leak.
Apps Court Estate
The land where the Bessborough Reservoir now sits was once a large estate called Apps Court. One of its most famous owners was John Montagu, 2nd Duke of Montagu. He owned it from 1709 until he passed away in 1749.
Over the years, the estate changed hands many times. In 1898–1899, the Southwark and Vauxhall Water Company bought the property. They then tore down the old house and dug up the entire estate to build the reservoir.
For a long time, the owners of Apps Court had a tradition. Every year on All Souls' Day, they would give a barrel of ale and some bread made from a quarter of corn to the poor people. This was part of their old land agreement. When the water company bought the land, they tried to stop this tradition. However, local farmers asked for help. In 1903, a charity group stepped in. They made sure that the money the water company paid for the land would be used to continue helping the poor people of Walton and Molesey.
What is Apps Court Estate used for today?
Today, the Bessborough Reservoir is managed and operated by Thames Water, a company that supplies water to many homes.
A large part of the original Apps Court farm still exists. It's located near the road closest to the River Thames. This area is often used for car boot sales, where people can sell their unwanted items. The owners of this farm also host a fireworks event in August, which happens around the same time as the Sunbury regatta, a local boat race.
Both the Knight and Bessborough Reservoirs are recognized as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means they are important places for nature and wildlife, and they are protected.
