Hanningfield Reservoir

HANNINGFIELD RESERVOIR

Hanningfield has the second largest reservoir in Essex (behind Abberton) and the eleventh in the country. It attracts thousands of visitors a year who want to walk around the woodland, do some fishing, go to the Visitors Centre or sit in the café and look across the water.

The reservoir lies within the Chelmsford area, but was created, in-part, to provide water for the New Town of Basildon.

The reservoir covers around 870 acres and is covered by a Bird Sanctuary Order as it is home to a number of Gadwalls and Teals. A large number of Canada Geese can be seen near the fishing lodge, and often with their chicks.

A consultation regarding the creation of the reservoir was reported on by the Essex Newsman on 10th March 1950.

Mr Cope Morgan K.C. was acting for the National Famers’ Union in 1950 after it was proposed that ‘Hanningfield Valley’ would be flooded. He asked Mr Eve, a witness for the Water Companies, what the farmers were expected to do. He suggested they may want to become bus conductors.

Mr Eve explained that it was entirely up the farmers to decide, and that it was down to the companies to re-house those that would need to be moved from their cottages.

Mr Morgan then asked if Fremnell’s Manor would really be destroyed. He explained that it had been modernised and the original timber farmhouse dated from 1550. Mr Eve replied that he thought that was an engineering matter.

Mr Cope retorted: “I should have thought it was a matter of culture and good taste.”

Mr Maurice Fitzgerald interjected on behalf of the Water Companies: “of course, nobody wants to flood the land or destroy anything unless it is absolutely necessary.”

Work began on the creation of the reservoir in 1951 and took 5 years to complete. All the buildings in the area were demolished, including Fremnell’s and eleven cottages. Some of the brick from the manor house were used in the construction of one of the dams.

A camera crew was sent to the area by Pathé News. They filmed families leaving the area, as well as cattle being moved. It was also recorded that all the trees in the valley were cut down to stop them from poisoning the water.

RESERVOIR

Mr Alec Frood and his family were the last to leave the valley. He was filmed harvesting a wheat crop prior to moving to his new farm in Braxted.

One of the earth-moving machines used in its creation was left in place and covered in concrete.

The Sphere, an illustrated newspaper, published photos on the 19th March 1955 of the valley being flooded. Around 3 million gallons of water flowed in every day eventually leaving the valley submerged under 6 billion gallons.

It was hoped that the reservoir could yield 21.5 million gallons a day during a time of drought.

Water pours in to the valley in 1955 - The Sphere

It took 200 days to fill the valley, using water that was pumped in from the Chelmer and Blackwater rivers. The perimeter of the reservoir is 6 miles long and its deepest point is 55 metres below the surface.

Construction on the reservoir

The water treatment plant opened in 1956 with the reservoir being officially opened on Thursday 19th September 1957 by Henry Brooke MP, who was Minister of Housing. The block of flats, that dominate Basildon town centre, are named after him.

The Pathé News narrator stated that the water would be needed by the New Town of Basildon as well as Southend and London County Council. This had already been reported in The Sphere (illustrated newspaper) on the 18th December 1948.

Rumours about a church spire appearing when the water level gets low have been circulating for years. Mick Green, a former resident of Downham, had heard that scuba divers had gone in to the lake to clear the lead from the roof.

When the water levels do drop, part of the foundations of Fremnell’s Manor can be seen from Hawkswood Road.

As previously stated, no structures were left in place. There wasn’t a church there anyway, as worshippers would have probably attended St. Peter’s Church in South Hanningfield.