Dreaming of an escape right in the city? Welcome to Brent Reservoir. Popularly known as the Welsh Harp, this reservoir straddles Brent and Barnet. It is a biological Site of Special Scientific Interest. It is the only one in either borough.
The Brent Reservoir’s story began in the early 19th century. The Grand Union Canal and Regent’s Canal faced water shortages. The Regent’s Canal Company dammed the River Brent. This created the reservoir. An Act of Parliament in 1819 enabled this. Construction occurred between 1834 and 1835. William Hoof was the contractor. The Brent Reservoir flooded Cockman’s Farm. Initially, it was named Kingsbury Reservoir. It covered 69 acres between Old Kingsbury Church and Edgware Road.
Expansion followed in December 1837. Disaster struck in 1841. Continuous rain caused the dam to collapse. Two people died. A supervisor was then employed. His cottage remains near the dam. At its largest in 1853, the Brent Reservoir spanned 400 acres. It later reduced to 195 acres in the 1890s. It further decreased to 110 acres. Today, it holds an estimated 1,600,000 cubic meters of water.
The Welsh Harp name comes from a nearby pub. The Welsh Harp tavern stood until the early 1970s. W.P. Warner transformed the area in the late 19th century. He created pleasure gardens. He made the Old Welsh Harp Tavern a popular destination. Annie Adams celebrated it in song.
Greyhound races with mechanical hares started here in 1876. Capazza’s balloon launch failed in 1891. These events attracted diverse crowds. Crime and violence were common. The Brent Reservoir hosted Bank Holiday fairs. A bear once escaped from a menagerie.
The reservoir hosted the Women’s European Rowing Championships in 1960. Over 200 competitors attended. Five thousand spectators watched. The BBC and Eurovision televised the event. The Brent Reservoir is also home to the Welsh Harp Sailing Club. The Phoenix canoe club operates here as well.
The first formal cycle race occurred at the Welsh Harp grounds in 1868. Arthur Markham won. He received a silver cup from the Welsh Harp Hotel. James Moore won the world’s first race in Paris. His grandson believes he is buried near the Brent Reservoir.
In the past, the reservoir froze over. Ice-skating events took place. In 1893, Jack Selby drove a coach and four horses across the ice. Naturists gathered at the Welsh Harp from 1921. In 1930, they were attacked in “The Sun-Bathing Riots”.
The Midland Railway built Welsh Harp station in 1870. It closed in 1903. During World War I, the Mechanical Warfare Department tested tanks here. During World War II, a seaplane was rumored to be an escape route for the Prime Minister.
The Brent Reservoir is a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to its birdlife. Rare birds have visited. These include little bittern and white-rumped sandpiper. The Welsh Harp Conservation Group protects the area. The Brent Reservoir is also a Local Nature Reserve.
Great crested grebe and common tern breed here. Eight warbler species nest here too. Rare birds like the black-winged stilt have been spotted. The current bird list numbers 253 species. Thirty-one butterfly species have been recorded. Fifteen dragonfly species breed here. Grey squirrels and red foxes are common. Several bat species have been recorded.
Neasden Recreation Ground lies on the southern shore. Welsh Harp Open Space is on the north-west shore. So, next time you seek tranquility, remember the Brent Reservoir. It is a haven of history and nature in North West London.