Howden Reservoir
Encyclopedia
The Howden Reservoir is a Y-shaped reservoir, top one of the three in the Upper Derwent Valley
, England. The western half of the reservoir lies in Derbyshire
, whereas the eastern half is in Sheffield
, South Yorkshire. The county border runs through the middle of the reservoir, following the original path of the River Derwent
. The longest arm is around 1.25 miles (2 km) in length. The reservoir is bounded at the southern end by Howden Dam; below this, the River Derwent
flows immediately into Derwent Reservoir
and subsequently the Ladybower Reservoir
. Other tributaries include the River Westend
, Howden Clough and Linch Clough.
Work commenced on the dams construction on 16 July 1901 and completed in July 1912. The works involved constructing a temporary village at Birchinlee
, or "Tin Town", for the workers, a temporary railway line from the main line at Bamford
, construction of a link aqueduct to the Derwent Dam. The workers that died during the construction of the dam were buried in Bamford Church
. The dam is of solid masonry construction, and 117 ft (35.7 m), 1080 ft (329.2 m). and impounds 1900000 gallons (8,637.6 kl) of water, from a catchment area of 5155 acres (20.9 km²).
To the east of the reservoir stands the hill of Featherbed Moss, one of the highest tops in the area at 545 m, and one of several tops of that name in the area.
Upper Derwent Valley
The Upper Derwent Valley is an area of the Peak District National Park in England. It largely lies in Derbyshire, but its north eastern area lies in Sheffield, South Yorkshire...
, England. The western half of the reservoir lies in Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
, whereas the eastern half is in Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, South Yorkshire. The county border runs through the middle of the reservoir, following the original path of the River Derwent
River Derwent, Derbyshire
The Derwent is a river in the county of Derbyshire, England. It is 66 miles long and is a tributary of the River Trent which it joins south of Derby. For half its course, the river flows through the Peak District....
. The longest arm is around 1.25 miles (2 km) in length. The reservoir is bounded at the southern end by Howden Dam; below this, the River Derwent
River Derwent, Derbyshire
The Derwent is a river in the county of Derbyshire, England. It is 66 miles long and is a tributary of the River Trent which it joins south of Derby. For half its course, the river flows through the Peak District....
flows immediately into Derwent Reservoir
Derwent Reservoir, Derbyshire
Derwent Reservoir is the middle of three reservoirs in the Upper Derwent Valley in the north east of Derbyshire, England. It lies approximately from Glossop and from Sheffield. The River Derwent flows first through Howden Reservoir, then Derwent Reservoir and finally through Ladybower Reservoir...
and subsequently the Ladybower Reservoir
Ladybower Reservoir
Ladybower Reservoir is a large Y-shaped reservoir, the lowest of three in the Upper Derwent Valley in Derbyshire, England. The River Ashop flows into the reservoir from the west; the River Derwent flows south, initially through Howden Reservoir, then Derwent Reservoir, and finally through Ladybower...
. Other tributaries include the River Westend
River Westend
The River Westend flows through the Dark Peak of the Derbyshire Peak District in England. Its source is at Bleaklow Stones on Bleaklow, from where it flows south east into a western arm of the Howden Reservoir...
, Howden Clough and Linch Clough.
Work commenced on the dams construction on 16 July 1901 and completed in July 1912. The works involved constructing a temporary village at Birchinlee
Birchinlee
Birchinlee is the site of "Tin Town", a village built by the Derwent Valley Water Board for the workers who constructed the Derwent and Howden Dams between 1902 and 1916. Most of the workers had previously been engaged in the construction, in Wales, of the Elan Valley Reservoirs where the...
, or "Tin Town", for the workers, a temporary railway line from the main line at Bamford
Bamford
Bamford is a village in the Derbyshire Peak District, England, close to the River Derwent. To the north-east is Bamford Edge, and to the south-east the location of the water treatment works covering the Ladybower, Derwent and Howden Reservoirs. Though locally Bamford is described as being in the...
, construction of a link aqueduct to the Derwent Dam. The workers that died during the construction of the dam were buried in Bamford Church
Bamford Church
St John the Baptist church is a C of E church in Bamford in the Hope Valley, Derbyshire, England. The building that is seen today is largely a William Butterfield restoration dating from 1861, with a bell tower.- The Bells and Tower :...
. The dam is of solid masonry construction, and 117 ft (35.7 m), 1080 ft (329.2 m). and impounds 1900000 gallons (8,637.6 kl) of water, from a catchment area of 5155 acres (20.9 km²).
To the east of the reservoir stands the hill of Featherbed Moss, one of the highest tops in the area at 545 m, and one of several tops of that name in the area.