Wartime Water Storage Tanks

A pike in wartime water storage tanks

Emergency Water Supply Tanks (EWS), also known as Static Water Tanks, were the provision of emergency water supplies to facilitate the rapid extinguishing of fires. Provision of the tanks was an essential component of the Civil Defence during World War II. A wide variety of designs and materials were used in the tank construction including rubber, corrugated steel, and pre-fabricated steel panels. When the tanks were removed, most would leave little or no trace, being equally easy to assemble or dismantle.

Littleover had a number of pre-cast concrete EWS tanks, but the total is not known. There were three, known to be located along the length of Blagreaves Lane. The size of these rectangular, open topped, water tanks is unknown.

The first of the tanks was on the odd house number or the left side of Blagreaves Lane, just after leaving The Hollow. It was almost opposite Harpur Avenue and was situated on what was then waste land (part of Middle Cross Close), across which the footpath traversed through to Wilson Road. When demolished a detached house was built in its place, this early 1950’s house has the number 5 Blagreaves Lane.

The second tank was in the corner of the field that belonged to the Albrecht family. It was located, on the same side as, and just after Moorway Lane. The tank actually stood where the drive to house number 38 Blagreaves Lane now stands. This tank was rumoured to have a large pike swimming in it. Our next-door neighbour, who was a farm worker at Moorway Farm which rented the field, regularly threw feed over the top of the tank. What happened to the fish when the tank was demolished is not known?

The third EWS tank was situated on what was then waste land (part of one of the Blagreaves Closes), across which the footpath to Carisbrooke Gardens was cut through. The plot was on the righthand side of Blagreaves Lane, between houses that were only named at the time and now numbered xx and yy. In addition to the footpath a detached house was built on the land facing onto Blagreaves Lane in the 1950s/60s.