Chasewater

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Chasewater is a 3 km² reservoir between Brownhills, Norton Canes and Burntwood, in the Borough of Lichfield, Staffordshire, England.

1 History
2 Today
3 References
4 External links

[edit] History

Work on building the reservoir started in 1796 and it was opened on 8 May 1797. In May 1799 the eastern dam burst, flooding the valley below. Work started soon to rebuild the dam which re-opened on 2 January 1800 to supply water to the Wyrley & Essington Canal, and it quickly became a profit-centre for the canal company, selling water to other canals in the area.

Legislation to close the canal was enacted in 1954. The reservoir became known as Norton Pool. Brownhills Urban District Council purchased Norton Pool in 1956 for £5,600 which was for a total area of 272 acres (1 km²) and 2 cottages, from the British Transport Commission and renamed it Chasewater, after nearby Cannock Chase.

There is a smaller body of water known locally as Jeffrey's Swag that drains into the main body of Chasewater. The two are separated by a causeway carrying the Chasewater Railway.

When, in 1974, the West Midlands county was created from parts of Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire, the new Staffordshire-West Midlands border cut though the reservoir, running South-East from near Jeffrey's Swag to near the mid-point, then turning an approximate right-angle to the North-East ^[1]. In around 1994, the western/southern shores of Chasewater, plus Jeffreys Swag, were 'moved' from the Metropolitan Borough of Walsall, then the west Midlands, back into Staffordshire. The West Midland Bird Club, who maintain the official county bird lists for both counties, counted sightings at Chasewater as being in Staffordshire, throughout this period.

[edit] Today

The surrounding area is designated as a country park. The reservoir hosts a variety of activities including water-skiing, sailing, angling and bird watching. Running around Chasewater is the Chasewater Railway.