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The Great Britain Guide

Reservoirs & lochs · London

Aldenham Reservoir

Free admission

Aldenham Reservoir — reservoir in Hertfordshire, England, UK.

Aldenham Reservoir, reservoirs & lochs in Hertfordshire

Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence

Plan your visit

Typical visit
1 h–2.5 h
Nearest railway station
Elstree & Borehamwood · 2.3 km
  • Free entry
  • Dog-friendly

About

Aldenham Reservoir is a reservoir in the United Kingdom. Wikidata describes it as: "reservoir in Hertfordshire, England, UK". Coordinates: 51.6458°, -0.3111°.

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Protected designations

  • Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty: Chilterns

Designations sourced from Natural England open data under OGL v3.

From the Wikipedia article

Aldenham Reservoir is situated in the parish of Elstree and Borehamwood in Hertfordshire, England, about one mile (1.6 km) to the west of the village of Elstree. It is the source of the stream, Tykes Water, that runs north through Radlett.

Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.

Background

History

It was built between 1795 and 1797 by the Grand Junction Canal Company, to control the water levels in the River Colne following the construction of the Grand Junction Canal, and was hand dug by French prisoners of war. An inspection report on the condition of the reservoir's dam in September 2019 revealed it to be a stable structure and in good condition, but requiring longer-term repair. Originally, the reservoir was 65 acre in extent, but following repairs to the dam its surface area was reduced to 55 acre. Since 1973 the reservoir has no longer been required for drinking water.

Visiting

The reservoir has been used for recreational purposes, including fishing and sailing. However, following an inspection of the dam in 2019, the current owners dropped the water level to reduce pressure on the structure. The sailing club was, as a result, no longer able to sail, handed back its lease in 2020 and departed. This also raised questions about the future use of the reservoir. There have also been suggestions that public access will be reduced with the reservoir fenced off from Aldenham Country Park.

Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Coordinates
51.6458, -0.3111
County
Hertfordshire
District
Hertsmere
Parish
Elstree and Borehamwood
Postcode
WD6 3BE
Parliamentary constituency
Hertsmere
Nearest railway station
Elstree & Borehamwood2.3 km

Sources

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Frequently asked questions

Where is Aldenham Reservoir?
Aldenham Reservoir is in Hertfordshire, London, United Kingdom (postcode WD6 3BE), in the parish of Elstree and Borehamwood.
Is Aldenham Reservoir a protected site?
Yes — Aldenham Reservoir is part of the Chilterns National Landscape (AONB).
How do I get to Aldenham Reservoir?
The nearest railway station is Elstree & Borehamwood, about 2.3 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode WD6 3BE.