Dovestones Reservoir
Encyclopedia
Dovestone Reservoir is a reservoir situated in a valley above the village of Greenfield
, in Saddleworth
,Oldham, Greater Manchester
, England. Situated within the historic West Riding of Yorkshire
, it is on the edge of the Peak District
national park in the Pennines
. While its main purpose is to supply drinking water to the surrounding area, it is also a major tourist attraction, offering several walks amongst picturesque landscapes.
s. The main contractor was A.E. Farr (Civil Engineers) of Westbury, Wiltshire
. The proposed construction received a lot of opposition from the local mill owners who claimed the damming of the river would cut off their water supply. As a result of this, a tunnel was built higher up in the hillside to bypass the reservoir.
Local myth has it the reservoir is named after a collection of stones on the skyline that look like a dove
. To see these stones, walk along the dam wall towards the carpark and look up the hillside when you come to the corner of the dam wall and the tourist information sign. Another version is that in the local dialect some words of celtic origin (dubh for black) were still in usage when Ordnance Survey staff recorded and thus fixed the place name (a similar outcrop five miles to the north is known as Black Stone Edge). To the right on the adjacent skyline is a group of small crags that are known locally as "The Indian's Head" due to their resemblance to an Indian
's face that is looking upwards, probably derived from the resemblance to the image on the reverse of the early twentieth century American coin known as the Indian's Head Penny.
. Approaching from Oldham, take Lees Road (A669) from Mumps roundabout and follow signs for "Saddleworth Tourist Attractions". Before coming into the village of Uppermill
there is a sharp right turn just past Greenfield Station. Drive through Greenfield and onto the A635 which leads up the hill.
There are pay and display car parks below the dam wall and further up the A635 at Binn Green Carpark. On dry weekends, both car parks fill up exceedingly quickly and there is little chance of a space after 11am.
There is the 180 bus service from Manchester and Oldham town centre to Greenfield. It is possible to walk to the reservoir from Greenfield, and instead of walking up the hill you can go along the road that leads to the paper mill - at the roundabout where the A635 joins, take the second exit. The walk is approximately three quarters of a mile.
Due to the proximity of Greenfield and surrounding houses, the dam wall of Dovestone does not have a traditional spillway
to control water height. Instead there is a large bell-mouth overflow in one corner. This looks like a large circular hole.
Next to this, on the dam wall itself is the ingeniously designed emergency overflow. This consists of three metal troughs that when full dump their water onto the other side of the wall where it runs across the road and back into the river below. For this to be activated there would need to be a flash flood of approximately two metres of water.
During a visit in 1981 to attend the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV
of Tonga
paid a visit to Dovestone Reservoir to pick up tips on reservoir construction and design. To commemorate this visit, a carved stone has been set into the dam wall of the Yeoman Hey reservoir. It is visible when walking along the tarmac pathway between the two reservoirs.
Up on Dovestone Moss is a memorial to James Platt, MP who died in a shooting accident. The memorial is known as the Ashworth Cross.
From Dovestone Moss and other areas on the far side of the reservoir, look North-East towards the hill known locally as "Pots and Pans". The obelisk-like structure on the top is a memorial to local people who fought in both World Wars.
Walking a full circuit of the reservoir can take approximately an hour. It is best to stay on the path and to avoid trying to follow the water's edge as some of the banks are undercut and eroding.
There are no restrictions on cyclists or dog owners, however care must be taken when cycling as pedestrians always have right of way. Dogs must be on leads when lambing season is on as the sheep roam freely about the hillside.
There is a small sailing club which uses the reservoir.
Chew Valley
is one of several famous Gritstone climbing areas (along with Stanage
) and is often visited by climbers and boulderers who either climb on the crags on the skyline at Dovestone Edge, Wimberry or, or the large boulders dotted about the hillside.
Dovestones is also a location in both New Satan Sam and Tormishire games. http://www.oldhamadvertiser.co.uk/news/s/1068716_beware_the_legend_and_hazards_of_dovestones
Greenfield, Greater Manchester
Greenfield is a village in the Saddleworth parish of the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham in Greater Manchester, England. It is east of Oldham, and east-northeast of the city of Manchester...
, in Saddleworth
Saddleworth
Saddleworth is a civil parish of the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham in Greater Manchester, England. It comprises several villages and hamlets amongst the west side of the Pennine hills: Uppermill, Greenfield, Dobcross, Delph, Diggle and others...
,Oldham, Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
, England. Situated within the historic West Riding of Yorkshire
West Riding of Yorkshire
The West Riding of Yorkshire is one of the three historic subdivisions of Yorkshire, England. From 1889 to 1974 the administrative county, County of York, West Riding , was based closely on the historic boundaries...
, it is on the edge of the Peak District
Peak District
The Peak District is an upland area in central and northern England, lying mainly in northern Derbyshire, but also covering parts of Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Staffordshire, and South and West Yorkshire....
national park in the Pennines
Pennines
The Pennines are a low-rising mountain range, separating the North West of England from Yorkshire and the North East.Often described as the "backbone of England", they form a more-or-less continuous range stretching from the Peak District in Derbyshire, around the northern and eastern edges of...
. While its main purpose is to supply drinking water to the surrounding area, it is also a major tourist attraction, offering several walks amongst picturesque landscapes.
History
Dovestone Reservoir was built in 1967 to collect water from the surrounding moorlandMoorland
Moorland or moor is a type of habitat, in the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome, found in upland areas, characterised by low-growing vegetation on acidic soils and heavy fog...
s. The main contractor was A.E. Farr (Civil Engineers) of Westbury, Wiltshire
Westbury, Wiltshire
Westbury is a town and civil parish in the west of the English county of Wiltshire, most famous for the Westbury White Horse.-Name:The most likely origin of the West- in Westbury is simply that the town is near the western edge of the county of Wiltshire, the bounds of which have been much the same...
. The proposed construction received a lot of opposition from the local mill owners who claimed the damming of the river would cut off their water supply. As a result of this, a tunnel was built higher up in the hillside to bypass the reservoir.
Local myth has it the reservoir is named after a collection of stones on the skyline that look like a dove
Dove
Pigeons and doves constitute the bird family Columbidae within the order Columbiformes, which include some 300 species of near passerines. In general terms "dove" and "pigeon" are used somewhat interchangeably...
. To see these stones, walk along the dam wall towards the carpark and look up the hillside when you come to the corner of the dam wall and the tourist information sign. Another version is that in the local dialect some words of celtic origin (dubh for black) were still in usage when Ordnance Survey staff recorded and thus fixed the place name (a similar outcrop five miles to the north is known as Black Stone Edge). To the right on the adjacent skyline is a group of small crags that are known locally as "The Indian's Head" due to their resemblance to an Indian
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
's face that is looking upwards, probably derived from the resemblance to the image on the reverse of the early twentieth century American coin known as the Indian's Head Penny.
Geography
Access is via the A635 road to HolmfirthHolmfirth
Holmfirth is a small town located on the A6024 Woodhead Road in the Holme Valley, within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, West Yorkshire, England. Centred upon the confluence of the Holme and Ribble rivers, Holmfirth is south of Huddersfield and from Glossop. It mostly consists of...
. Approaching from Oldham, take Lees Road (A669) from Mumps roundabout and follow signs for "Saddleworth Tourist Attractions". Before coming into the village of Uppermill
Uppermill
Uppermill is a village in Saddleworth—a civil parish of the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England, historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire. It lies on the River Tame in a valley amongst the South Pennines, east of Oldham, and east-northeast of Manchester...
there is a sharp right turn just past Greenfield Station. Drive through Greenfield and onto the A635 which leads up the hill.
There are pay and display car parks below the dam wall and further up the A635 at Binn Green Carpark. On dry weekends, both car parks fill up exceedingly quickly and there is little chance of a space after 11am.
There is the 180 bus service from Manchester and Oldham town centre to Greenfield. It is possible to walk to the reservoir from Greenfield, and instead of walking up the hill you can go along the road that leads to the paper mill - at the roundabout where the A635 joins, take the second exit. The walk is approximately three quarters of a mile.
Amenities
There is often a mobile food vendor during summer months selling the usual selection of food, drinks and ice cream. There are toilets located at Binn Green and the main car park. The Peak District Park Rangers Service maintains a small office next to the main car park and rangers are generally patrolling around the reservoirs and park at the weekends. In 2010, the RSPB established a weekend presence at Dovestones, a reflection of the area's ornithological interest. Greenfield has a number of small shops and businesses offering a wide range of services and there are many fine pubs in the local area.Points of interest
Spillway
A spillway is a structure used to provide the controlled release of flows from a dam or levee into a downstream area, typically being the river that was dammed. In the UK they may be known as overflow channels. Spillways release floods so that the water does not overtop and damage or even destroy...
to control water height. Instead there is a large bell-mouth overflow in one corner. This looks like a large circular hole.
Next to this, on the dam wall itself is the ingeniously designed emergency overflow. This consists of three metal troughs that when full dump their water onto the other side of the wall where it runs across the road and back into the river below. For this to be activated there would need to be a flash flood of approximately two metres of water.
During a visit in 1981 to attend the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV
Taufa'ahau Tupou IV
Tāufaāhau Tupou IV, King of Tonga, GCMG, GCVO, KBE, KStJ son of Queen Sālote Tupou III and her consort Prince Viliami Tungī Mailefihi, was the king of Tonga from the death of his mother in 1965 until his own death in 2006...
of Tonga
Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
paid a visit to Dovestone Reservoir to pick up tips on reservoir construction and design. To commemorate this visit, a carved stone has been set into the dam wall of the Yeoman Hey reservoir. It is visible when walking along the tarmac pathway between the two reservoirs.
Up on Dovestone Moss is a memorial to James Platt, MP who died in a shooting accident. The memorial is known as the Ashworth Cross.
From Dovestone Moss and other areas on the far side of the reservoir, look North-East towards the hill known locally as "Pots and Pans". The obelisk-like structure on the top is a memorial to local people who fought in both World Wars.
The "Life for a Life" Memorial Forest
Started in 1999, this plantation allows people to pay to have a tree planted in the name of a loved one. Currently over 700 trees have been planted.Recreation
In addition to collecting water, the reservoir is used as a very popular tourist attraction, and is probably the most readily accessible place in the local area. It also attracts local joggers who compete in a race every Friday evening in the summer months. The path around Dovestone is well maintained, gravelled and relatively flat. Leading off the main circular path are others that lead up onto the skyline, off to Chew Reservoir, and up towards the top carpark at Binn Green.Walking a full circuit of the reservoir can take approximately an hour. It is best to stay on the path and to avoid trying to follow the water's edge as some of the banks are undercut and eroding.
There are no restrictions on cyclists or dog owners, however care must be taken when cycling as pedestrians always have right of way. Dogs must be on leads when lambing season is on as the sheep roam freely about the hillside.
There is a small sailing club which uses the reservoir.
Chew Valley
Chew Valley, Manchester
Chew Valley is a valley within the Saddleworth parish of the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England. It follows the path of Chew Brook from the western slopes of Black Chew Head down to where it joins the Tame Valley at Greenfield, several miles to the east of Manchester.The...
is one of several famous Gritstone climbing areas (along with Stanage
Stanage
Stanage Edge, or simply Stanage is a gritstone escarpment in the English Peak District, famous as a location for climbing. The northern part of the edge forms the border between the High Peak of Derbyshire and Sheffield in South Yorkshire. Its highest point is High Neb at above sea level...
) and is often visited by climbers and boulderers who either climb on the crags on the skyline at Dovestone Edge, Wimberry or, or the large boulders dotted about the hillside.
Dovestones is also a location in both New Satan Sam and Tormishire games. http://www.oldhamadvertiser.co.uk/news/s/1068716_beware_the_legend_and_hazards_of_dovestones