This shows Alton Water along with the village of Tattingstone. The reservoir was built to provide Ipswich with a supply of water and is filled with water pumped from the River Gipping not from runoff from the surrounding drainage basin. This was on of the few locations in the area that had the necessary combination of impermeable rock along with a valley suitable for flooding. The site was chosen after much controversy. The dam across the valley is at the far end of the reservoir close to the River Stour which is the body of water that can be seen in the background.

The building of the reservoir meant that a new road and bridge to be built to keep the settlement linked together.