Lake history

The Bristol Waterworks Company (as it was known then) was formed in 1846 to supply spring water from the Sherborne Spring at Chewton Mendip in the Mendip Hills to people in Bristol via the Barrow Tanks (which are the oldest of the Bristol fisheries).

As the population of Bristol and demand for fresh water supplies grew, the Company obtained approval to build a dam across the river Yeo at Blagdon starting construction in 1891 and completing the work some eight years later, when the reservoir started to fill.

The dam, which extends up to 175 feet below ground was built by hand with materials being brought to the site by a purpose-constructed rail line which connected the site to the main Bristol to Exeter line at Yatton. The site at Blagdon Halt station was a functioning rail station but not the buildings and rail bed now form a private residence and can still be seen from the road opposite the Inspection House (at the Blagdon end of the dam).

The lake reached top level in 1903 and opened for fishing for the first time on May 21st 1904, when the Company allowed a maximum of eight permits to be issued in any one day.

Fly fishing was the only method allowed from the boats (permit prices were 10 shillings per rod and 2 pounds for the boat and a ghillie) with any method allowed from the bank. Worm fishing and ledgering were banned in 1905 although some spinning and trolling was still permitted.

Stocking of the lake was a sporadic affair with large numbers of fry reared at the Ubley hatchery being released into the lake on an annual basis. Growth rates were prolific, and little "growing on" of fish prior to stocking was performed until circa 1909 and 1910.