Lonsdale Road Reservoir
Lonsdale Road Reservoir (also the Leg of Mutton Reservoir or Leg o' Mutton Reservoir) is a disused reservoir in Barnes in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is an 8.2 hectare local nature reserve and Site of Borough Importance for Nature Conservation, Grade 1, owned and managed by Richmond upon Thames London Borough Council.[1][2][3]
History
Prior to construction of the reservoir it was meadowland by the riverside, known as Westmead or Lotmead, as it was divided into 'lots' of land. It formed a parish exclave of
The reservoir was decommissioned in 1960.[6] Developers proposed to build housing and a shopping centre on the site, but this was strongly opposed by local residents. They suggested that it should become a nature reserve instead, and their proposal was accepted.[7] Richmond upon Thames London Borough Council purchased the area from Thames Water in 1970 and in 1990 it was designated a local nature reserve.[6]
Ecology
Breeding birds include
Access
There is a mile-long perimeter path round the reservoir, which can be accessed from the Thames Path, Ferry Lane and Lonsdale Road.
References
- ^ "Lonsdale Road Reservoir (Leg of Mutton Reservoir)". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. 5 March 2013. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
- ^ "Map of Lonsdale Road Reservoir (Leg of Mutton Reservoir)". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
- ^ a b "Leg o'Mutton". Greenspace Information for Greater London. 2013. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
- ISBN 9781843835639.
- ^ Michael, William; Will, John; Scholefield, Joshua (1911). Michael & Will on the Law Relating to Gas and Water. Butterworth & Company.
In 1901 part of Putney, without houses or population, was added to Barnes civil parish under London Government Act 1899
- ^ a b Notice on the site
- ^ Holloway, Sally (March–April 2006). "Saving the Leg o' Mutton". Barnes in Common. Churches Together in Barnes. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2014.