ˌɛndʒɪnˈɪɹ dʒˈɑːn ɹˈɛni ænd kənstɹˈʌktɚ hjˈuː mˈækɪntˌɑːʃ ˈoʊpənd ðə ɹˈɛzɚvwˌɑːɹ ˌɔn fˈaɪv dᵻsˈɛmbɚ wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd ɪlˈɛvən æz wˈʌn ʌvðə fˈiːdɚz fɚðə ɡɹˈænd dʒˈʌŋkʃən kənˈæl.
Engineer John Rennie and constructor Hugh Mackintosh opened the reservoir on 5 December 1811 as one of the feeders for the Grand Junction Canal.