Inventory Site Record

The land here was formerly part of Highgate Green, the old village green. In 1844 the New River Company purchased land then being used for nursery gardens, also the site of one of the three village ponds and built Highgate Service Reservoir here in 1846. This provided water to houses in Highgate for the first time. Today the reservoir is covered and the site is largely grassland, but still has the small circular conduit house built to service the reservoir. Two stretches of the original cast iron railings remain around the reservoir along Highgate West Hill and The Grove. Species of birch have been planted on the reservoir roof by Thames Water, who continue to be responsible for the site.

Previous / Other name:

Highgate Service Reservoir; Highgate Green

Site location:

The Grove/Highgate West Hill

Postcode:

N6

What 3 Words:

error.copies.diary

Type of site:

Private Open Land

Borough:

Camden

Open to public?

No

Opening times:

private, but visible

Special conditions:

Facilities:

Events:

Public transport:

Tube: Highgate, Archway (Northern) then bus. Bus: 143, 210, 271, 214.

Citymapper    
Google Map    
streetmap.co.uk

Research updated:

01/10/2009

Last minor changes:

19/07/2023

Please check with the site owner or manager for latest news. www.thameswater.co.uk

The land here was formerly part of Highgate Green, the old village green. In 1844 the New River Company purchased land then being used for nursery gardens, also the site of one of the three village ponds and built Highgate Service Reservoir here in 1846. This provided water to houses in Highgate for the first time. A small circular brick pavilion was built to service the reservoir. The New River Company was compulsorily purchased along with the 8 other private water companies serving greater London when the Metropolitan Water Board was founded in 1903. The Board was itself abolished in 1974 and transferred to the Thames Water Authority, now Thames Water. Today the reservoir is covered and the site is largely grassland, but still has the pavilion and two stretches of the original cast iron railings remain around the reservoir along Highgate West Hill and The Grove. These have spearhead finials set into a moulded cast-iron kerb on a brick plinth with large lotus flower terminals at intervals. The southernmost section of railing around the reservoir was replaced by wooden railings in the early 1990s. Thames Water has recently (2007) undertaken landscaping works, planting birch species on the reservoir roof and refurbishing the railings.

Sources consulted:

'Streets of Highgate' ed. Steven Denford and David A Hayes (Camden History Society Publications, 2007); Bridget Cherry & Nikolaus Pevsner, The Buildings of England: London 4: North (Penguin, 1998); Camden Listed Buildings website; LB Camden, Highgate Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Strategy, 2007

Grid ref:

TQ282874 (528323,187360)

Size in hectares:

0.513

Site ownership:

Thames Water

Site management:

Thames Water

Date(s):

1846

Designer(s):

Listed structures:

LBII: Conduit House and Railings to Water Reservoir.

On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens:

No

Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965:

No

Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931:

No

Local Authority Data

The information below is taken from the relevant Local Authority's planning legislation, which was correct at the time of research but may have been amended in the interim. Please check with the Local Authority for latest planning information.

On Local List:

Yes

In Conservation Area:

Yes

Conservation Area name:

Highgate

Tree Preservation Order:

Not known

Nature Conservation Area:

No

Green Belt:

No

Metropolitan Open Land:

No

Special Policy Area:

Yes - Area of Special Character: Hampstead & Highgate Ridge

Other LA designation:

Private Open Space

Highgate Reservoir, with Pavilion, October 2009. Photo: S Williams

Click a photo to enlarge.