French prisoners dug it. That’s how Aldenham Country Park’s reservoir began. Imagine those men toiling in 1795. They were creating this tranquil lake. Aldenham Country Park wasn’t always a park. It started as Aldenham Common. This vast area served as the largest common within the Manor of Aldenham. Its name possibly means ‘old home’ or ‘Ealda’s home’. Aldenham Country Park boasts a rich history. Kings and nobles owned the land. King Offa even held it in 785 AD. The Danes annexed it later. King Alfred reclaimed it.
The Abbey of St Alban leased it to the Abbey of Westminster during the Norman conquests. After the monasteries dissolved in 1539 various owners followed. Henry Cogshill built Wigbournes. This house likely stood where Haberdashers Aske’s Boys School stands now. Sir Henry Carey owned it. Later Lord Hollis and Henry Hicks Gibbs owned the land. Gibbs became Baron Lord Aldenham in 1896. The estate remained whole until after World War II. Much of it was then sold. The mansion became the Haberdashers Aske’s Boys School.
Viccary Gibbs a son of the first Lord Aldenham was a tree and shrub expert. He planted The Avenues a double row of Turkey Oaks. They are flanked by hawthorn and lime trees. He planted them in 1880. Part of his collection remains in Aldenham Country Park. In 1793 the Grand Junction Canal Company bought 68 acres. They paid £2051. They needed the land for water maintenance. The reservoir was intended to maintain water levels. The Grand Union Canal’s construction had lowered them. The dam’s poor construction caused problems. Subsidence and cracking continue today. James Barnes strengthened the dam in 1802. He raised the wall for £400.
The Grand Union Canal Company allowed boating bathing and fishing in the 1930s. They provided car parking and refreshments. This stopped in 1937. It resumed in 1973. The reservoir was no longer needed for drinking water then. You can still find the old pumping station’s concrete base. It’s hidden in the scrub behind the dam wall. The land had various uses between 1938 and 1972. Aldenham Country Park opened to the public in 1972. It’s a haven of wildlife today. Wildflowers shrubs insects birds thrive there. Ducks swans and waterfowl live on the lake. Aldenham Country Park continues to evolve. It remains a place of beauty history and wonder. Enjoy your visit to this fascinating place.