The Slade Reservoirs are twin reservoirs in the

North Devon North Devon is a local government district in Devon, England. North Devon Council is based in Barnstaple. Other towns and villages in the North Devon District include Braunton, Fremington, Ilfracombe, Instow, South Molton, Lynton and Lynmouth ...

town of

Ilfracombe Ilfracombe ( ) is a seaside resort and civil parish on the North Devon coast, England, with a small harbour surrounded by cliffs. The parish stretches along the coast from the 'Coastguard Cottages' in Hele Bay toward the east and along the ...

, England. They are owned by

South West Water South West Water provides drinking water and waste water services throughout Devon and Cornwall and in small areas of Dorset and Somerset. South West Water was created in 1989 with the privatisation of the water industry. It was preceded by the ...

, and leased to South West Lakes Trust. While no longer used for water supply, they are used as fisheries (mainly the lower reservoir). The waterworks has since been demolished, Ilfracombe's main waterworks is now Hore Down Works on the outskirts of the town. Higher and Lower Slade Reservoirs were originally impounded for potable water supply but local knowledge suggests this reservoir is no longer used (and is considered natural by the enrvioment agency). The reservoir has a 6 acre mixed fishery (

carp Carp are various species of oily freshwater fish from the family Cyprinidae, a very large group of fish native to Europe and Asia. While carp is consumed in many parts of the world, they are generally considered an invasive species in parts of ...

bream Bream ( ) are species of freshwater and marine fish belonging to a variety of genera including ''Abramis'' (e.g., ''A. brama'', the common bream), ''Acanthopagrus'', '' Argyrops'', ''Blicca'', '' Brama'', ''Chilotilapia'', '' Etelis'', ''Lepo ...

, tench,

perch Perch is a common name for fish of the genus ''Perca'', freshwater gamefish belonging to the family Percidae. The perch, of which three species occur in different geographical areas, lend their name to a large order of vertebrates: the Percif ...

roach Roach may refer to: Animals * Cockroach, various insect species of the order Blattodea * Common roach (''Rutilus rutilus''), a fresh and brackish water fish of the family Cyprinidae ** ''Rutilus'' or roaches, a genus of fishes * California roach ...

pike Pike, Pikes or The Pike may refer to: Fish * Blue pike or blue walleye, an extinct color morph of the yellow walleye ''Sander vitreus'' * Ctenoluciidae, the "pike characins", some species of which are commonly known as pikes * ''Esox'', genus of ...

) managed by SW Lakes Trust. The reservoirs were built to supply water to the urban district of Ilfracombe. The reservoirs were insufficient so that

Wistlandpound Reservoir Wistlandpound Reservoir is a reservoir in Devon, England owned by South West Water. Completed in 1957, the earth embankment reservoir holds up to 1,550 megalitres (341 million gallons) and covers an area of 40 acres (16ha). Situated close to E ...

was constructed. It was completed in 1956) and is now used as a fishery. Fishing here is restricted a
a permit is required.
Upper Slade Reservoir is a twin reservoir of Lower Slade Reservoir and served the same purpose. While it may seem that the river wilder is the primary inflow, it is not the wilder intercepts the spillway between the two reservoirs A staircase has been constructed between the dam and the former railway line between Barnstaple and Ilfracombe. Fishing is allowed in this reservoir, but is strictly limited and requires a special permit.

History

In 2004 Charlotte Pinkney was murdered, more than 50 searches across

and

West Somerset West Somerset was a local government district in the English county of Somerset. The council covered a largely rural area, with a population of 34,900 in an area of ; it was the least populous non- unitary district in England. According to f ...

took place. About 150 million litres of water was drained from two reservoirs that where near her home for police divers to look for clues. Even the sewer network was searched. No body was found.Killer who murdered 16-year-old who 'spurned sexual advances' found dead in prison
/ref>

References

{{Reflist Reservoirs in Devon Ilfracombe 1858 establishments in England Infrastructure completed in 1858