The Bessborough and Knight Reservoirs were initially built by the Southwark and Vauxhall Waterworks Company, whose works were across the river at Hampton.

Construction began in 1898 replacing an old mansion and its farmed or landscaped estate, a manor, named Apps Court.

It was sold in 1898–1899 to the Southwark and Vauxhall Water Company, who pulled down the house, and "excavated [what is described in the Victoria County History of 1912 as] the whole estate for a reservoir".

A barrel of ale, and a quarter of corn made into bread, were still in the 19th century distributed annually to the poor by the owners of the property on All Souls' Day in respect of their customary tenure.

Much of the farm of the estate remains by the road running parallel to and closest to the River Thames,[4] and is used as a car boot sale location,[5] the owners host the August fireworks event that coincides with Sunbury regatta.