Hornsey Wood Reservoir was completed in 1869 by the East London Waterworks Company and used to provide water to the surrounding areas of North London. Because of its stunning architecture, the reservoir has even been used as a filming location in blockbusters such as Skyfall and Paddington. It was also a filming location for Sherlock Holmes in 2009.
Hornsey Wood Reservoir belongs to Thames Water, who identified a structural defect in one of the arches during a 2012 inspection, according to Haringey Council park management documents, which meant the area of the roof was fenced off for a short period while necessary work could be carried out.