The Brent Reservoir (popularly called the Welsh Harp) is a reservoir which straddles the boundary between the London Boroughs of Brent and Barnet and is owned by British Waterways. The reservoir takes its informal name from its characteristic shape as seen in plan ^[1], namely a welsh harp. A nearby public house, dating from at least 1751, used the name Old Welsh Harp for much of its history, although this has given rise to a popular myth that the reservoir was named after the pub when it was the other way around. The inn itself was originally called The Harp and Horn ^[2]. The London Borough of Brent is a London borough in north west London and forms part of Outer London. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ... A man-made lake in Keukenhof, Netherlands A lake is a body of water or other liquid of considerable size contained on a body of land. ... ... This article includes a list of works cited or a list of external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... The London Borough of Brent is a London borough in north west London and forms part of Outer London. ... The Ashokan Reservoir, located in Ulster County, New York, USA. It is one of 19 that supplies New York City with drinking water. ... The London Borough of Brent is a London borough in north west London and forms part of Outer London. ... The London Borough of Barnet is a London borough in North London and forms part of Outer London. ... It is the Triple Harp which lays claim to the prime place in the history of the harp in Wales. ... Inns are establishments where travellers can procure food, drink, and lodging. ...

When first constructed it was called

 was believed to contain 10,000 lb (4,500 kg) of fish, over 90% of which is Roach. However, fishing is prohibited at the reservoir. 

It was constructed by the Regent's Canal Company between 1835 and 1838. The water flooded much of what was Cockman’s Farm, to supply the Grand Union Canal at Paddington. In 1841 after seven days of continuous rain the dam head collapsed, killing a number of people. At its greatest extent it covered 400 acres (1.6 km²) in 1853, but was dramatically reduced to 195 acres (789,000 m²) in the 1890s, and subsequently has been reduced to 110 acres (445,000 m²). The Regents Canal is a canal across an area just to the north of central London. ... The canal at Braunston The Grand Union Canal is a canal in England and part of the British canal system. ... A street in Paddington including a pub, a restaurant targeted at tourists and Paddington Station in the background. ... 1841 is a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ...

During the second half of the 19th century the area was famous as a popular destination for recreation and evening entertainments, focused on the inn, as well as Kingsbury Horse Races. The area lost its attraction with the development of West Hendon between 1895 and 1915. The first greyhound races with mechanical hares took place here in 1876. There was a famous incident during its Victorian heyday when a bear escaped. Kingsbury is a place in the London Borough of Brent, north-west London. ... West Hendon. ... Several greyhounds before a race. ... Jack rabbit and Jackrabbit redirect here. ... 1876 (MDCCCLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ...

It was popular as a resort for speed boat trials, and other water sports, until its size became unsuitable for such activity. The Welsh Harp Conservation Group was founded in 1972 and was worked tirelessly to protect the area as a nature reserve and the formal designation as a Local Nature Reserve took place in 2005. The Welsh Harp Conservation Group produced a book about the reservoir - Birds of Brent Reservoir in 2000 - which includes chapters on the social history, the affects of urbanisation, the habitats, as well as an in-depth study of the birds, animals and other wildlife.

Today the reservoir is a sailing centre (although the Youth Sailing Base is closed for redevelopment) and a wildlife reserve, popular with bird watchers. Most of the lake and the surrounding park is a UK government SSSI. For either of the songs named Sailing, see Sailing (song). ... A nature reserve is an area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research. ... A Site of Special Scientific Interest or SSSI is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom. ...

References

1. ^ Map and aerial photo sources
2. ^ West Hendon

West Hendon. ...

External links

• The Welsh Harp Conservation Group
• Barnet Council's page on Welsh Harp, checked March 2007
• Brent Council's page on Welsh Harp, checked July 2005
• The Bankolidaid a macaronic verse about a typical bank holiday trip to fons Brent Reservoir [1]