The three reservoirs are named Upper, Middle and Lower and were built between 1833 and 1854 to provide clean drinking water via an open water course which led to the Hadfield Dam situated in Crookes, following the devastating Sheffield cholera epidemic of 1832.

Adjacent to the Middle Reservoir is Hammond's Field Nature Reserve, which is managed by The Wildlife Trust for Sheffield and Rotherham.

The nature reserve forms part of the South Pennine Moors Special Protected Area.

[1][2] A path, the Long Causeway leads from the Upper reservoir, onto the moors to Stanedge Pole and then onto Stanage Edge.

[3] The Grouse and Trout Inn, opened in 1852, once stood close to Middle Reservoir.