Forums Forums Wirral History : Chasing the Past History Information Request Heswall Poll Hill Reservoir

I knew the old water tower that used to be on Poll Hill, what I didn't know was that there is also a reservoir up there. Normally it is surrounded by trees, but they have just cut many of them back (there were many growing into the side of the reservoir which didn't seem a good idea).

I can't find ANY proper mention/name of this reservoir anywhere, it does appear on maps as a covered reservoir and the bare plot was marked on the 1910 map.

There is a mention of ...
"101. Neville Charles Sims Meares was born on 13 Oct 1898 in Sheffield, Yorks and died on 1 Jan 1974 in Teignmouth, Devon at age 75.
General Notes: 1898 - Born at Norwood Rise, Pitsmoor, Sheffield
1914-1918 war. Lieutant in Royal Garrison Artillery. 127th Seige battery was in the 92nd Brigade RGA
1933 Lived at Brown Edge, Buxton
1937 - Built Fernilee reservoir
Built Heswall Reservoir, then Chester sewer pipeline
Built Rhwbina pipeline (Tafffawr)
Built Hewall Reservoir, then Chester sewer pipeline around Tarporley"

I don't know if the "Heswall Reservoir" mentioned there is actually Cross Hill which is now counted as Thingwall or whether it is Poll Hill.

WOW KID?

A couple of more aerials, it was a lot tidier in 1970s and had some other structures beside it.

That is Heswall Service Reservoir, the rest of the trees on the embankment will be coming down in due course but are being done in a slowly but surely method to avoid causing upset to the tree huggers.

I notice those photo's appear to be taken from inside the fence line?

it was tidier in the 70's... the wretched thing used to go up in flames every year

Welcome aboard Colski! Hope you're enjoying Wikiwirral & continue to contribute.

Sounds like you used to live near the Heswall reservoir. Am I right in thinking it's the highest point in Wirral?

Sounds like you used to live near the Heswall reservoir. Am I right in thinking it's the highest point in Wirral? [/quote]

Listed as 350 feet & that's what ny sat nav read as well.

The tree huggers are killing the trees with love and Ivy growth,most of the trees in Wirral are in a mess,so it's nice to see somebody taking notice of them

Still some nice views though.

...wonder if that's why they're cutting back the trees, etc? I would imagine the views of Wirral & North Wales would be great from up there - or do all the houses get in the way??

thanks guys, I used to live at the top of Poll Hill, and the reservoir was only a couple of hundred yards away.. that was in the 70's.
there was always some part of the common going up in flames back then

Cross Hill is on the Alwen Pipeline, which was inaugerated in 1921. I have some photos of inside it / being built. Cross Hill was built by John Cochrane & Sons Ltd.

Fernilee is south of Stockport in the Goyt Valley.

would like to see the pics bud!

Much better views from Heswall Dales, too many trees up Poll Hill

Cross Hill Reservoir.

Looking at Google Earth, it may have been extended since.

Fascinating to see the pics. of Cross Hill. It appears from the write-up that the final construction differs from the original plans. See map.
Incidentally, going back to DD's original post, it would seem, looking at the time line there, that the Heswall reservoir would have been the Poll Hill one, since the Cross Hill one was much earlier.