Wharncliffe reservoir built on an area of surveyed enclosure of former moorland. Land was probably part of Wharncliffe chase in the medieval period (see mid 18th century map in Latham 1994, 8). This enclosure is quite regular indicating it was probably surveyed but it pre dates the parliamentary enclosure in the area and is shown as already enclosed on Jefferys map of 1775. The date of origin for the moorland is an estimate based on the amount of prehistoric enclosure in the area. This makes it likely that the woodland had been cleared at this time (see Percy 1996). There is no legibility of the moorland or the enclosed landscape in the reservoir.