History Newspaper Archives Archives 1870 - 1879
March & Sept 1872 2 items on Coate Water

COATE RESERVOIR

March 25 1872

THE PUBLIC is requested to take notice that the canal company having let the reservoir to Mr W FOX, no tickets will in future be issued at the canal office or by the committee.
W FOX begs to inform his Friends and the public that he has placed on the Reservoir a large stock of first class PLEASURE BOATS and FISHING PUNTS, and parties requiring a few hours' pleasant recreation, either Boating or Fishing, will find they can enjoy themselves at the reservoir, on moderate terms.
W.F having made several expensive alterations for the attraction of the public, will in future make a small change of twopence per head to visitors, but the holders of these tickets will have the cost deducted from his boat hire or fishing hire, or he may have the amount in cigars or refreshment.
There will be no fishing until the 1st June when the fence months expire.
Pleasure Boats can be hired by the day or the hour on moderate terms.
Tea, Pic-nic, and other Parties can be supplied with refreshments, of the best quality, on the shortest notice, and an experienced man will be kept for taking Ladies on the water.
Any person TRESSPASSING within the Boundary Fence of the Reservoir, without permission, will be Prosecuted.
No dogs will be allowed on the Banks.
Persons are, therefore, requested not to bring them, or they will not be allowed to pass through the gate.
Bathing will be only be permitted on terms, to be agreed upon with W. FOX, between the hours of 4 and 8 o'clock am during the summer months.

Sept 9 1872

On Saturday morning the culvert which conveys the water of a spring underneath Coate reservoir burst, and the water was rushing out when Mr Fox, the lessee, who fortunately happened to be passing the mouth of the culvert at the time, rushed to the hatch, and let it down.
He then run to the other end of the reservoir, and arrived in time to see the repulsed water flow out into the meadow there, but by letting down the other hatch he stopped this.
Returning, he saw the spot where the leak had occurred indicated by a whirlpool, the confined air in the culvert suddenly blowing the water up above the surface of the reservoir like a spout of a whale.
It appears to be the most serious leak that has happened for years occurred, and is no doubt caused by the brickwork of the culvert settling down, the foundation being upon a kind of bog or quicksand

Swindon Evening Advertiser