Jesse Boot gave £50,000 to start an endowment fund to provide a university in Nottingham. In 1919 he had purchased the Highfields estate in Lenton, with intention of building a model village (like Bournville). This idea was abandoned after the sale of Boots in 1920, and in 1921 Jesse decided to use the land to rehouse University College, Nottingham, which was to become the new University. 35 acres of the Highfields estate were used and the remainder was landscaped into a public park with an ornamental lake. Jesse Boot contributed to the development of the site; £200,000 was spent on the building of University Boulevard. This view of Highfields lake shows the cascade at the west end of the lake.