Staunton Harold Reservoir

Staunton Harold Reservoir
Staunton Harold Reservoir Panorama taken from the South West of the reservoir
Staunton Harold Reservoir
Location	South Derbyshire, North West Leicestershire
Coordinates	52.811°N 1.441°W / 52.811; -1.441
Type	reservoir
Primary inflows	River Dove
Primary outflows	Melbourne water treatment works
Basin countries	United Kingdom
Surface area	209 acres (85 ha)
Average depth	25 m (82 ft)
Water volume	1,400 million imperial gallons (6,400 ML; 5,200 acre⋅ft)

Staunton Harold Reservoir is a large reservoir under the management of Severn Trent Water, located between Melbourne and Ticknall in Derbyshire, England. Most of the water is within Derbyshire but a small part of the southern shore is over the border in Leicestershire.

The reservoir was built in 1964 at the behest of the River Dove Water Board, meant to serve Leicester and the towns of northern Leicestershire. Although no villages were lost in the construction of the reservoir, Furnace Farm, New England Farm and Calke Mill were submerged; their remains lie 25 metres below the surface. The dam wall is a clay core construction, similar to the dam wall at Ladybower Reservoir. Part of the shoreline border the Calke Abbey estate, as well as the National Forest. The reservoir has a total surface area of 209 acres (0.85 km²).

Staunton Harold hosts a natural habitat for much bird and plant life, and is also home to Dimmingsdale Nature Reserve. There is also a sailing club, a visitors' centre and a children's adventure playground available to visitors. A non-functioning windmill dominates the skyline close to the visitors' centre called Tower Windmill, built in 1797 by the first Lord Melbourne at a cost of £250.

References

• http://www.derbyshireuk.net/staunton_harold_reservoir.html
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/eastmidlands/series4/east_midlands_reservoirs.shtml

External links

• Media related to Staunton Harold Reservoir at Wikimedia Commons