Chasewater
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| Chasewater | |
|---|---|
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| Location | Staffordshire |
| Coordinates | Coordinates: |
| Lake type | reservoir |
| Basin countries | United Kingdom |
| Surface area | 3 km² |
Chasewater is a 3 km² reservoir between Brownhills, Norton Canes and Burntwood, in the Borough of Lichfield, Staffordshire, England.
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[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. The canal was bought by the Birmingham Canal Navigations in 1840.
Legislation to close the canal was enacted in 1954. However, much of it remained in use as a feeder from the reservoir to the rest of the BCN system. 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.
The large house situated half way along the dam wall was originally the weirmaster's cottage. The weirmaster would walk up to the small octagonal building, constructed to the same design as BCN tollhouses, and operate the weir to release water from Chasewater reservoir into the canal. The weir is now computer controlled and the house is owned and lived in by the Downs family.
The road over the dam had to be closed to through traffic when it was feared that the eighteenth century structure might be unable to cope with both the volume of water and heavy vehicles. Given the need to retain traditional water levels in the reservoir for both sailing and canal use, dropping the level of the water behind the dam was not deemed feasible. Subsequently the construction of the M6 Toll between the reservoir and the A5 required the construction of a new bridge over the motorwar to access the southern side of the lake, where an Innovation Centre provides enhanced access to the waterfront. Selling land for motorway construction also allowed the Chasewater Railway to construct new premises and a large engine shed on the lake side.
[edit] References
- ^ Ordnance Survey Landranger Sheet 139, 1982 edition
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