In November 1935 a Bill was presented to Parliament by Cheltenham Municipal Borough and Gloucester Corporation to create the Cheltenham and Gloucester Joint Water Board. Included in the powers of the board were provisions to transfer the Cheltenham Waterworks at the Mythe Tewkesbury to the new board and for the expansion of this undertaking to provide water to both Cheltenham and Gloucester, including the provision of a new water main to Churchdown Hill and from there to enable the Gloucester Corporation to supply its customers.1 The Bill was subsequently given Royal Assent on Friday 31 July 19362
As can be seen from the 1921 Ordnance Survey map sheet shown above the area of the hill now occupied by the reservoirs was a flat plateau and is identified as being an ancient camp. But it is also apparent that extensive quarrying had already taken place, although large parts of it were unaffected.
The outcome of the passing of the Act was discussed in some detail in the Gloucester Citizen.3 The principal works were the expansion of the waterworks at the Mythe to supply additional water to both Gloucester and Cheltenham and the building of new mains, including one to Churchdown and the construction of a covered reservoir at Chosen Hill. Other reports make clear that the supply volume was some 6 million gallons per day (27.28 mega litres). Even before the Act was passed negotiations were progressing for the purchase of 361/2 acres at a price of £1900 from Mr George Felix Smith, subject, of course to the passing of the Act.4
By the middle of 1937 a debate ensued about the advisability of reducing the capacity of the Chosen Hill Reservoirs to 4 million gallons, due to rising costs. However, this was later abandoned. 5 The main from Tewkesbury was to be constructed as a 27 inch pipe and included a section running across the Gloucester and Cheltenham Airfield (later Staverton).6 The tender for the reservoir was awarded to Messrs C A Horton of Brierley Hill in the sum of £46,000.7 The original scheme consisted of two reservoirs each capable of holding 3 million gallons each and was completed in June 1940. As shown in the photograph below, taken in 1944, the extent of the original two reservoirs can be clearly seen.
Whilst war-time led to significant rationing of water it is clear that this scheme allowed for the expansion of residential water supplies. Gloucester Corporation, as well as supplying its own residents was the water undertaker for significant surrounding areas including Brockworth, Churchdown, Hucclecote, Barnwood and also extended to Newent.
By 1949 it was apparent that the water supply for Gloucester and Cheltenham was not large enough and a project to investigate increasing water extraction at Tewkesbury and extending the churchdown reservoir capacity was undertaken.8 The scheme was finally in operation in November 1955, with the main from Tewkesbury to Churchdown increased to 36 inches diameter (an increase from the original of 27 inches). It is apparent from an aerial photo taken some three years later that the expansion of capacity was effected by extending the two existing reservoirs.
The next phase in the extension of the Churchdown Reservoirs took place in about 1962 as part of another major expansion of the facilities at Mythe to double the capacity from 10 million gallons to 20 million gallons a day including adding a second 36 inch main from Tewkesbury to Churchdown, which was completed in 1961 and two additional reservoirs at Churchdown (although it appears that this was later changed to one). The total cost of this large expansion was valued at £1 million.9
The Gloucester and Cheltenham Joint Water Board was replaced by the North West Gloucestershire Water Board on the 1 April 1965 and was in turn replaced by the Severn Trent Water Authority on 1 April 1974 and the sewerage and water business was privatised as Severn Trent Water in July 1989.10
The Gloucester and Cheltenham Joint Water Board Engineer from 1948 to 1965 was Mr J H Goodridge, who retired when NWGWB took over. Prior to 1948 the Engineers for both Cheltenham and Gloucester were responsible for the operations of the board as joint engineers.11
A lower reservoir has subsequently been developed off Hucclecote Lane to the east of Broadcroft, the date of construction is unknown, but as this is not shown on the large scale mapping dating from 1971, it is likely to have been constructed under Severn Trent Water tenure.
There was a site assessment (site ref 462) undertaken by Gloucestershire County Council as part of the Waste Core Strategy Site Options Consultation. This concluded:-
Gloucestershire County Council’s Highways Development Coordination officers recommended that
the site is not considered any further within the WCS and there are also significant water resource
issues associated with the site. Therefore it is felt that this site should not be taken forward into the
WCS for further consideration.12
- Joint Water Board, Gloucester Journal – Saturday 23 November 1935, https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000532/19351123/112/0010 ↩︎
- Cheltenham and Gloucester Joint Water Board Act, Gloucester Citizen – Friday 31 July 1936 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000320/19351203/085/0004 ↩︎
- Practical Solution to Glo’ster’s Water Supply Problem, Gloucester Citizen – Tuesday 04 August 1936
https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000325/19360804/026/0006 ↩︎ - Chosen Hill Reservoir, Gloucester Citizen – Tuesday 28 April 1936, https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000325/19360428/025/0005 ↩︎
- Smaller Reservior Not Asked For,Gloucester Citizen – Tuesday 29 June 1937, https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000325/19370629/028/0006 ↩︎
- Minstry and Joint Airport, Gloucestershire Echo – Tuesday 30 November 1937,
https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000320/19371130/005/0006 ↩︎ - New Water Scheme, Gloucestershire Echo – Tuesday 25 January 1938 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000320/19380125/068/0006 ↩︎
- More Water for Glos’shire, Western Daily Press – Thursday 06 January 1949, https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000513/19490106/086/0006 ↩︎
- Water Board Will Double Output, Tewkesbury Register – Friday 14 April 1961, https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002217/19610414/076/0004 ↩︎
- New Waterworks Extension Opened, Gloucester Citizen – Thursday 01 April 1965, https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000325/19650401/005/0005 ↩︎
- Gloucester and Cheltenham Joint Water Board Advert for Resident Chemist at Tewkesbury Water Works, Tewkesbury Register – Saturday 02 December 1944, https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002217/19441202/059/0004 ↩︎
- https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/media/mj3kwgjm/cd1077-technical-evidence-paper-wcs-n-site-selection-appendix-c60-462-chosen-hill.pdf ↩︎