The Science Centre

Sited within an abandoned Victorian reservoir next to the observatory and planetarium, the Science Centre houses a mix of permanent and temporary exhibitions

Housed in our underground Victorian Reservoir, our permanent exhibitions include rocket parts (kindly donated by Rolls Royce) and a display charting the history of the Victorian reservoir.

Some of this space is dedicated to temporary exhibitions, such as our current one documenting the history of human space flight. We welcome the opportunity to work with others to host exhibitions of mutual interest.

A viewing window allows us to showcase the engineering and environmental measures within the plant room that run the Centre.

Please note that an event ticket is needed to visit the Science Centre.

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History of the Victorian Reservoir

Coxmoor Reservoir was opened in 1886 to provide clean drinking water to the surrounding area. At that time many people suffered bad health due to poor sanitation

The Public Health Act of 1875 meant that Sutton-in-Ashfield Local Board became responsible for local sanitation and the control of water supplies in the area. The building of the reservoir formed part of their local water improvement scheme.The reservoir held about 450,000 gallons of clean drinking water supplied by a nearby well in Harlow Wood. At nearly 23 metres (75 ft) in diameter and an average 6 metre (20 ft) height, its circular structure and arched roof was semi-submerged with the pump house visible from outside.

In the 1970’s a new reservoir in Kirkby-in-Ashfield was opened to support the growing local population’s requirements for clean water. The Coxmoor Reservoir was put on stand-by, later being decommissioned and abandoned.

In 2014 the Trustees of Sherwood Observatory purchased the reservoir and surrounding land to secure it for potential future use given its proximity to the existing members’ observatory telescope.

The charity’s ambitions have now been realised, with Coxmoor Reservoir forming the heart of the new Sherwood Observatory site. The original circular brick reservoir houses the Science Centre underneath the Planetarium and Cafe on the upper level.

The original water valves and artifacts from the reservoir have been preserved and are exhibited in and around the new Centre, thanks to a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.