Glencourse Reservoir

A reservoir lying 2 miles (3 km) west of Glencorse, in the Pentland Hills to the south of Edinburgh, Glencorse Reservoir forms one of a network of reservoirs supplying that city with water. Built 1820-24, initially to provide compensation water to the mills of Glencorse, Milton Bridge and Auchendinny, it also ensured a supply of drinking water to Edinburgh through a cast-iron pipeline which is almost 9 miles (14 km) in length. Two branches of this pipeline once supplied a small reservoir on Castlehill and another next to Heriot's School. The reservoir is retained by an earth dam 33.5m (110 feet) in height and 100m (330 feet) in length. The scheme was the work of engineer James Jardine (1776 - 1858) and cost £145,000.