Water reservoir at Bracebridge Heath, built in 1912 to supply clean water to the city of Lincoln. The Bracebridge Heath reservoir is one of the oldest subterranean reservoirs in the UK, and holds 27 million litres of drinking water. It was built in response one of the worst typhoid outbreaks in the country's history. In 1904-5, over 1000 people in Lincoln contracted typhoid and 113 people died after consuming contaminated water from the River Witham, which was the main supply for the city at that time. After the outbreak, a new supply for the city was obtained in 1908, from Elkesley, Nottinghamshire. The water tower at Westgate, Lincoln (see PRN 70097) and the Bracebridge Heath reservoir were opened in 1911 and 1912 respectively, with water being pumped first to the Westgate tower, and surplus water passing by gravitation to the reservoir. {1}{2}{3}