Brent Reservoir

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Brent Reservoir
Official name	Brent Reservoir
Locale	Brent, UK
Maintained by	British Waterways
Construction began	1835
Opening date	1838

The Brent Reservoir (popularly called the Welsh Harp) is a reservoir which straddles the boundary between the London Boroughs of Brent and Barnet and is owned by British Waterways. The reservoir takes its informal name from its characteristic shape as seen in plan ^[1], namely a welsh harp. A nearby public house, dating from at least 1751, used the name Old Welsh Harp for much of its history, although this has given rise to a popular myth that the reservoir was named after the pub when it was the other way around. The inn itself was originally called The Harp and Horn ^[2].

When first constructed it was called Kingsbury Reservoir. The reservoir is fed by the Silk Stream and the River Brent and its outflow is the River Brent. It is said to contain enough water to fill 3 million baths, and in 1991 was believed to contain 10,000 lb (4,500 kg) of fish, over 90% of which is Roach. However, fishing is prohibited at the reservoir.

It was constructed by the Regent's Canal Company between 1835 and 1838. The water flooded much of what was Cockman’s Farm, to supply the Grand Union Canal at Paddington. In 1841 after seven days of continuous rain the dam head collapsed, killing a number of people. At its greatest extent it covered 400 acres (1.6 km²) in 1853, but was dramatically reduced to 195 acres (789,000 m²) in the 1890s, and subsequently has been reduced to 110 acres (445,000 m²).

During the second half of the 19th century the area was famous as a popular destination for recreation and evening entertainments, focused on the inn, as well as Kingsbury Horse Races. The area lost its attraction with the development of West Hendon between 1895 and 1915. The first greyhound races with mechanical hares took place here in 1876. There was a famous incident during its Victorian heyday when a bear escaped.

It was popular as a resort for speed boat trials, and other water sports, until its size became unsuitable for such activity. The Welsh Harp Conservation Group was founded in 1972 and was worked tirelessly to protect the area as a nature reserve and the formal designation as a Local Nature Reserve took place in 2005. The Welsh Harp Conservation Group produced a book about the reservoir - Birds of Brent Reservoir in 2000 - which includes chapters on the social history, the affects of urbanisation, the habitats, as well as an in-depth study of the birds, animals and other wildlife.

Today the reservoir is a sailing centre (although the Youth Sailing Base is closed for redevelopment) and a wildlife reserve, popular with bird watchers. Most of the lake and the surrounding park is a UK government SSSI.