It was constructed in 1854 as part of the Longdendale chain to supply water from the River Etherow to the urban areas of Greater Manchester.

It was constructed of local clay; a masonry overflow weir protects the reservoir from overtopping.

At Arnfield, lime, ferric sulphate and polyelectrolyte are added to the water in mixing chambers.

At Godley, lime is added to remove manganese, and the water is filtered and chlorinated and fed into the distribution network.

In 1990, the Hollingworth Reservoir (now part of Swallows Wood nature reserve) was decommissioned and levelled and waters from the Ogden Brook fed into Arnfield.