Bartley Reservoir is located in Bartley Green, Birmingham, surrounded by Genners Lane (at the dam / retaining wall) and Scotland Lane.

Bartley Reservoir from Genners Lane (December 2015). Photography by Elliott Brown

This reservoir is used for drinking water, and is operated by Severn Trent Water. It holds up to 460,000 square metres (5,000,000 sq ft) of water.

Bartley Reservoir from the picnic area near Scotland Lane (March 2021). Photography by Elliott Brown

The reservoir is home to Bartley Sailing Club.

Bartley Sailing Club at Bartley Reservoir from Genners Lane (December 2015). Photography by Elliott Brown

History of Bartley Reservoir

The land occupied by Bartley Reservoir was in the parish of Northfield (originally in Worcestershire). It transferred to Warwickshire when it became part of Birmingham in 1911, and later became part of the West Midlands county on it's formation in 1974. The south-west end of the reservoir is in the parish of Frankley, which used to be in Worcestershire (Hereford and Worcester from 1974) until part of Frankley became a part of Birmingham during April 1995. The reservoir is a terminus of the Elan aqueduct, which brings water to the city from the Elan Valley Reservoirs in Wales (completed in the 1920s). It is close to Frankley Reservoir. The Birmingham Corporation Water Department gave the contract in February 1925 to the construction of Bartley Reservoir to Edmund Nuttall, Sons and Co. Ltd. of Manchester, and Edmund Nuttall, Sons and Co. Ltd. undetook the cementation. It was completed in 1930. The reservoir is now run by Severn Trent Water.

Bartley Reservoir from the picnic area near Scotland Lane (March 2021). Photography by Elliott Brown

View from Egg Hill

There is a panoramic view over Bartley Reservoir from near Egg Hill in Frankley.

Bartley Reservoir from Egg Hill (September 2020). Photography by Daniel Sturley