Bittell Reservoirs: Difference between revisions

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'Upper Bittell', 2005.

The Bittell Reservoirs are located above Barnt Green to the south of Longbridge in south Birmingham. They consist of the Upper (Upper Bittell) and Lower (Lower Bittell) reservoir. They were built to feed the Birmingham and Worcester Canal, which was finished in the 1790s, however, the reservoir was not completed until 1837. The 'Upper' reservoir is to ensure that the level of the canal is kept sufficiently high, even in times of drought. The 'Lower' reservoir(s) are compensatory reservoirs to ensure that the local area does not become parched in dry times.

Duing the early 20th century, the bird life of the reservior was recorded by the West Midland Bird Club.

The "Upper" reservoir can be seen as a form of insurance. A dried up, i.e. unusable, canal would have been disasterous for the owners of the canal as well as the artisans and tradesmen who relied upon it for a living. The irony of the reservoir is the length of time it took to build: only 6 years after it was finished the Birmingham & Gloucester railway was built alongside, mitigating the economic reasoning behind what was surely a huge investment. By looking at the huge bank which was built to constrain the reservoir a sense of the heroic engineering acheivement of the reservoir can be felt, the bank, after all, has stood now for almost 200 years.

The reservoirs are quite obscure nowadays, however they are used actively. Today one can fish in several places, especially on the lower reservoirs. The upper reservoir is used for sailing and windsurfing, and is the site of the Barnt Green Sailing Club. The far bank of the reservoir is inaccessible due to the fact that it is a SSSI; however in the accessible parts of the bank it is pleasant to sit or wander alongside.

Map sources for Bittell Reservoirs

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 [[Image:IMG_0808.JPG|thumb|410px|right|'Upper Bittell', 2005.]]
-The '''Bittell Reservoirs''' are located above [[Barnt Green]] to the south of the [[Longbridge]] motor plant which in turn is south of [[Birmingham]]. They consist of the Upper (Upper Bittell) and Lower (Lower Bittell) reservoir. They were built to feed the [[Birmingham and Worcester Canal]], which was finished in the [[1790s]], however, the reservoir was not completed until [[1837]]. The 'Upper' reservoir is to ensure that the level of the canal is kept sufficiently high, even in times of drought. The 'Lower' reservoir(s) are compensatory reservoirs to ensure that the local area does not become parched in dry times.
+The '''Bittell Reservoirs''' are located above [[Barnt Green]] to the south of [[Longbridge]] in  south [[Birmingham]]. They consist of the Upper (Upper Bittell) and Lower (Lower Bittell) reservoir. They were built to feed the [[Birmingham and Worcester Canal]], which was finished in the [[1790s]], however, the reservoir was not completed until [[1837]]. The 'Upper' reservoir is to ensure that the level of the canal is kept sufficiently high, even in times of drought. The 'Lower' reservoir(s) are compensatory reservoirs to ensure that the local area does not become parched in dry times.
+Duing the early [[20th century]], the bird life of the reservior was recorded by the [[West Midland Bird Club]].
-The "Upper" reservoir can be seen as a form of [[insurance]]. A dryed up, i.e. unusable canal would have been disasterous for the owners of the canal as well as the artisans and tradesmen who relied upon it for a living. The irony of the reservoir is the length of time it took to build: only 6 years after it was finished the [[Birmingham & Gloucester Line|Birmingham & Gloucester railway]] was built alongside, mitigating the economic reasoning behind what was surely a huge investment. By looking at the huge bank which was built to constrain the reservoir a sense of the heroic engineering acheivement of the reservoir can be felt, the bank, after all, has stood now for almost 200 years.
+The "Upper" reservoir can be seen as a form of [[insurance]]. A  up, i.e. unusable canal would have been disasterous for the owners of the canal as well as the artisans and tradesmen who relied upon it for a living. The irony of the reservoir is the length of time it took to build: only 6 years after it was finished the [[Birmingham & Gloucester Line|Birmingham & Gloucester railway]] was built alongside, mitigating the economic reasoning behind what was surely a huge investment. By looking at the huge bank which was built to constrain the reservoir a sense of the heroic engineering acheivement of the reservoir can be felt, the bank, after all, has stood now for almost 200 years.
-The reservoirs are quite obscure nowadays, however they are used actively. Today one can [[fishing|fish]] in several places, especially on the lower reservoirs. The upper reservoir is used for [[sailing]] and [[windsurfing]], and is the site of the Barnt Green Sailing Club. The far bank of the reservoir is inaccessible due to the fact it is a [[SSSI]]; however in the accessible parts of the bank it is pleasant to sit or wander alongside.
+The reservoirs are quite obscure nowadays, however they are used actively. Today one can [[fishing|fish]] in several places, especially on the lower reservoirs. The upper reservoir is used for [[sailing]] and [[windsurfing]], and is the site of the Barnt Green Sailing Club. The far bank of the reservoir is inaccessible due to the fact it is a [[SSSI]]; however in the accessible parts of the bank it is pleasant to sit or wander alongside.
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