High Park Reservoir (also known as Toxteth Reservoir) is a disused reservoir in the Toxteth district of Liverpool, England. Water for the reservoir was enclosed in a brick-built, sandstone-clad building. The building still stands and is opened to visitors for special occasions and events.
| High Park Reservoir | |
| Coordinates: | 53.3863°N -2.9643°W |
| Alternate Names: | Toxteth Reservoir |
| Status: | Not used for water storage since 1997, now used as an events space |
| Building Type: | Reservoir |
| Classification: | Grade II listed |
| Address: | High Park Street, Toxteth, L8 |
| Location City: | Liverpool |
| Location Country: | England |
| Opened Date: | 1853 |
| Closing Date: | 1997 (for use as a reservoir) |
| Other Dimensions: | 53.5m (175.5feet) x 67m (220feet) |
| Material: | Sandstone and brick |
| Public Transit: | Brunswick railway station |
| Architect: | Thomas Duncan |
| References: | Historic England, ref. 1279691 |
Opening in 1853, the reservoir provided fresh water to the rapidly growing city of Liverpool.[1] This was especially important given the prevalence of cholera at the time. The reservoir's height above parts of the city meant that it also provided a head of water for fighting fires at the city's docks.
Capable of holding approximately 2 million gallons, it was fed with fresh water from Rivington Pike in the West Pennine Moors and a spring in the Lodge Lane area of Liverpool. The building served as a reservoir for 140 years before its closure in 1997. It was given Grade II listed building status in June 1985.[2]
After a period of being left unused, the building has been used as a community space and events venue. It is not normally open to visitors, but there is an annual Heritage Day Open Event that allows people to see inside.[3] The building has proven useful as a location for filming, and has been used in Peaky Blinders.[4]
As part of Liverpool's Biennual celebrations in 2016, the building was used as an art installation for a piece by Rita McBride, called Portal.[5] In 2018 it was again used for an installation, called AURORA.[6]
Historic England describe the building as: "Retaining wall and corner tower to reservoir. 1855. Probably T. Duncan. Snecked stone. Battered wall with top roll moulding, approximately 53.5m x 67m. Entrance with studded door at right hand end of main facade; plaque with Liver bird over. Round tower above has broaches, slits and corbelled top."
The building has a flat roof, covered in grass, which offers good all round views of the city.
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