Edgbaston Reservoir served as a beloved 'beach' for Birmingham residents in the 1970s, offering a water-side escape just two miles from the city centre. A photograph from July 3, 1973, captures fishermen of all ages enjoying the water alongside sunbathers in deckchairs, paddlers, and rowboats. Another image from the summer heatwave of 1976 shows 21-year-old Ian Fish of Ladywood sunbathing in a spot normally under four feet of water, highlighting the reservoir's role as a local retreat.
From Roach Pool to Reservoir
Originally a small pool called Roach Pool, the site was enlarged by engineer Thomas Telford in 1827 to support Birmingham's canal network. Telford dammed the existing stream with an earth embankment near the Icknield Port Loop, creating Rotton Park Reservoir. Today, it is known as Edgbaston Reservoir, spanning 70 acres and designated as a Local Nature Reserve and site of historic importance.
A Haven for Leisure and Wildlife
The Friends of the Reservoir group, formed in 1990, works to protect and promote the site. It now supports activities such as sailing, canoeing, windsurfing, walking, cycling, and bird watching. The reservoir remains a quiet sanctuary and wildlife haven in the heart of the city, enjoyed by people of all ages.
