The individual lakes are called Lower Litton and Upper Litton. The former is 8 acres (32,000 m2) in size, the latter 16 acres (65,000 m2) and much deeper. They were built around 1850 by the Bristol Waterworks Company in conjunction with the "Line of Works" to bring water from the Mendip Hills to Bristol.[1]
A public footpath goes around the lakes and across the dam. The banks are home to a variety of flowers including primroses (Primula vulgaris), common bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta), wood anemone (Anemone nemorosa), violets and red campion.[2]
Fishing (under permit) is generally for rainbow (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and brown trout (Salmo trutta). Fish breeding takes place in the netted area immediately below the upper dam is the site for fish breeding.