Victorian arches exposed after decades under water

Victorian brickwork forming the foundation of one of London’s oldest reservoirs has been exposed for the first time in 50 years

The Kidderpore reservoir in Hampstead, built in 1867, supplies drinking water to 11,000 homes in north London. The ageing aluminium roof installed in 1963 is being replaced with a concrete one and new electronic security features installed.

Before work could begin, engineers drained 12 million litres of water — equivalent to nearly five Olympic swimming pools — and exposed the pristine brick arches. The work is due to be complete in 2015 when the arches will once again be submerged.

Neil Franks, Thames Water contract manager, said: “This project has given us a fantastic opportunity to view Victorian architecture usually under water. Even as water industry engineers we rarely get to see this.”

By law, reservoirs must be covered as a result of the 1846 cholera epidemic.