Cropston Reservoir was constructed in the south-east corner of the park in 1871, submerging the Head Keeper's house[1] and a substantial area of former parkland.[2] It was Leicester's second reservoir (after Thornton), built in response to the 1831 and 1841 cholera epidemics. The water level was raised 2 feet (60 centimetres) in 1887, to increase capacity and the original steam powered beam engines ran until 1956.[16] A number of pools were also constructed along the course of the River Lin through the park, to allow silt to settle before reaching the reservoir.[9] A second, covered reservoir was added on the northern side of the park in the early 1960s.[9]