Friday 13th February 2026  

Medal re opening of Swithland Reservoir, Sept 1896

Where the medal came from
The medal below was issued on the opening of Swithland Reservoir in 1896 and is owned by Mick Clowes of Quorn, who inherited it from his grandfather, Ernest Clowes, born 1893. Ernest’s family home was right at the bottom of Kinchley Lane and had to be vacated when it was about to be covered by the waters of the new Swithland Reservoir. Ernest, his parents (Charles and Sarah) and his other siblings moved to Cropston. In 1901 Charles was the ‘driver’ of a stationary engine at the waterworks and is later recorded as a chimney sweep and an agricultural labourer. It is believed that the medal must have been given to Charles.

Ernest Clowes
Ernest was the second eldest of four children, and after marrying Sarah Rudkin in 1913, the couple settled at 198 Leicester Road, Mountsorrel. They had six children, all of whom are shown outside the Leicester Road house in the mid 1930s. All three sons served in Guards regiments in WW2 and all got home safely. Mick’s father, Norman, born in 1920 is in the dark top standing behind his father.

The medal
The medal is 38mm (1 ½ inches) in diameter and is quite light in weight. It is probably cast in zinc as aluminium casting did not become common practice until later. On the front it says:
"To commemorate the opening of Swithland Reservoir by the Mayoress, Mrs. E. Wood. Septr. 10, 1896,"
In very small writing it says “Ball & Co L’ester”
and on the other side:
“Edward Wood, Mayor, 1888-9 and 1895-6.”

The manufacturer is believed to be Nathan Ball and Co who were jewellers on Wharf Street in Leicester at this time.

Leicester Chronicle - Saturday 12th September 1896
An article appeared in the press after the opening of the reservoir. It covered nearly a whole page. An extract has been reproduced below, which make reference to what sounds like Mick’s great grandfather’s medal – although in the piece it is described as being made of ‘gilt nickel silver’, which leads to speculation as to whether cheaper version was possibly issued to workers or those displaced by the reservoir.
Extract from the article:

THE NEW WATERWORKS AT SWITHLAND
FORMAL OPENING BY THE MAYORESS
DESCRIPTION OF THE SCHEME

The year 1896 has been one of red-letter days to the people of Leicester, but so far as the social well-being of the town is concerned, first place must be assigned to the interesting event constituted by the opening of the new Waterworks at Swithland, which took place on Thursday. The completion of that important undertaking will be hailed with common rejoicing, though of necessity actual participation in the function could only be enjoyed by a comparatively small, though admirably representative, section of the populace. It is well-known that the Mayor (Ald. Wood), whose name will ever be associated with the carrying out of this great scheme, had been anxious that the opening ceremony should be performed by a member of the Royal Family, and on the occasion of the Royal Show his Worship approached the Duke of York with a view to securing the good offices of the Duchess for this purpose, but while cordially promising to visit Leicester again at some future time, his Royal Highness was unable to accede to the Mayor's wishes in regard to the Waterworks opening celebration. The Water Committee then took action and by a unanimous vote decided to ask the Mayoress to perform the task of formally opening the works, an invitation which was enthusiastically supported by the community at large, the universal opinion being that no one was more entitled to the honour. The Mayoress graciously accepted the invitation, and Ald. Wood more than sustained the high reputation he has so long borne for warm- hearted hospitality by inviting the members of the Town Council, with their wives, together with many leading and representative citizens and ladies, to take part in the event, and, subsequently to join him at luncheon in the reservoir grounds. In an outdoor gathering of this character fine weather was, of course, an essential element if success were to be assured, and naturally the uncertainty which has marked the meteorological conditions of late, gave rise to some anxiety in this connection. Singularly enough, the morning brought with it much finer weather than we have experienced for weeks past, and whilst the opening proceedings were going on the sun shone brilliantly, but an hour later rain began to fall, and continued almost without intermission for the remainder of the afternoon. The Mayor’s guests, something like 350 in number, met an Bowling Green Street, outside the Waterworks Offices, at half-past ten in the morning, a long string of conveyances. provided by his Worship, being in readiness for the journey to Swithland. The members of the Town Council and chief officials of the Corporation, it was noted, were wearing the handsome medal's presented to them by the Mayor in honour of the occasion. The medals, which were of gilt nickel silver, bore on one side the inscription, "To commemorate the opening of Swithland Reservoir by the Mayoress, Mrs. E. Wood. Sept. 10, 1896," and on the other side, under the borough crest, was inscribed the name of the Mayor, with the dates of his Mayoralty, 1888-9 and 1895-6. A start was made shortly after half-past ten, and the drive to the reservoir via Anstey, Cropstone (sic), and Swithland was greatly enjoyed. Crossing the embankment at Cropstone, the shrunken state of Bradgate reservoir was the general topic of conversation. The sixty odd million gallons of water that remain here occupy a comparatively small space on the bed of the reservoir, and large stretches of vegetation are visible on every side where formerly only a vast - expanse of water met the eye. The works at Swithland were reached a little before midday, the carriages entering at the Brazil Island end of the reservoir, continuing by way of the farm and the new road at the foot of Buddon Wood, and on to the embankment. The magnificent view obtained here on all sides excited in no small degree the admiration of the visitors. True, the reservoir is not yet filled, but a very fair sheet of water lay beyond the embankment, and afforded some little idea, of the charming picture which the landscape will present when the lake has reached the full dimensions of 200 acres.

Quorn's relationship with Swithland Reservoir
These days, about a third of Swithland Reservoir is in the parish of Quorn; back in 1896 it was about a sixth. The bottom of Kinchley Lane where the Clowes family lived was on the very border of Swithland and Rothley parishes.
The creation of Swithland Reservoir had a significant effect on the water supply to Quorn.
See also Artefact 2519 and Artefact 2584.

The image below
1 and 2 – The Swithland Reservoir opening medal.

3 – Ernest and Sarah Clowes and their family outside 198 Leicester Road, Mountsorrel. Left to right:
Back row: Norman, Mick’s dad and Ernest’s eldest son, married twice, Rene (Irene), John (“Jack”)
Middle row: Derek (‘Dek”), Ernest (Mick’s grandad), Sarah (Mick’s grandma), Margaret
Front row: Janet.

4 and 5 – Pictures from the press article Leicester Chronicle, Saturday 12th September 1896

Submitted on: 2024-12-08 Submitted by: Mick Clowes with additional material by Sue Templeman Artefact ID: 2594 Artefact URL: www.quornmuseum.com/display.php?id=2594 Print: View artefact in printer-friendly page or just on its own (new browser tab).