Torside Reservoir
Encyclopedia
Torside Reservoir is the largest man-made lake
in Longdendale
in north Derbyshire
. It was constructed by John Frederick Bateman
between April 1849 and July 1864 as part of the Longdendale chain
to supply water from the River Etherow
to the urban areas of Greater Manchester
.
The Manchester Corporation Waterworks Act 1847 gave permission for the construction of the Woodhead
and Arnfield reservoir
s; the Manchester Corporation Waterworks Act 1848 allowed the construction of Torside and Rhodeswood Reservoir
, and an aqueduct to convey the water to the Arnfield reservoir where it would pass through the Mottram Tunnel
to Godley
.
It was stated in a statutory report, under the Reservoir Safety Act 1975, dated 12 June, that all five reservoirs could be over-topped during a Probable Maximum Flood. Woodhead, as the fountainhead, would require the most drastic improvements, but Torside needed crest remedial work. The wave wall was demolished and replaced with one 4.04 metres above the overflow sill. The claycore was extended to 1.34 metres above overflow sill and the road level was raised to 3.29m. The work took place between 1993 and 1994.
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
in Longdendale
Longdendale
Longdendale is a valley in the north of England, north of Glossop and south east of Holmfirth. The name means "long wooded valley".- Geography :...
in north 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...
. It was constructed by John Frederick Bateman
John Frederick Bateman
John Frederick Bateman was an English civil engineer whose work formed the basis of the modern United Kingdom water supply industry. For over 50 years from 1835 he designed and constructed reservoirs and waterworks. His largest project was the system that supplied Manchester with much of its...
between April 1849 and July 1864 as part of the Longdendale chain
Longdendale Chain
The Longdendale Chain is a sequence of six reservoirs on the River Etherow in the valley of Longdendale, in northern Derbyshire. They were constructed between 1848 and 1884 to a design by John Frederick Bateman to supply the growing population of Manchester and Salford with fresh water.The top...
to supply water from the River Etherow
River Etherow
The River Etherow is a river in northern England, and a tributary of the River Goyt. Although now passing through South Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Greater Manchester, it historically formed the ancient county boundary between Cheshire and Derbyshire. The upper valley is known as Longdendale...
to the urban areas of 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...
.
The Manchester Corporation Waterworks Act 1847 gave permission for the construction of the Woodhead
Woodhead Reservoir
Woodhead reservoir is a man-made lake near the hamlet of Woodhead in Longdendale in north Derbyshire. It was constructed by John Frederick Bateman between 1847 and June 1877 as part of the Longdendale chain to supply water from the River Etherow to the urban areas of Greater Manchester...
and Arnfield reservoir
Arnfield Reservoir
Arnfield Reservoir is a man-made lake in Longdendale in north Derbyshire. It was constructed in 1854 as part of the Longdendale chain to supply water from the River Etherow to the urban areas of Greater Manchester. Unlike the other reservoirs in the chain, Arnfield and Hollingworth Reservoir are...
s; the Manchester Corporation Waterworks Act 1848 allowed the construction of Torside and Rhodeswood Reservoir
Rhodeswood Reservoir
Rhodeswood Reservoir is a man-made lake in Longdendale in north Derbyshire. It was constructed by John Frederick Bateman between 1849 and June 1855 as part of the Longdendale chain to supply water from the River Etherow to the urban areas of Greater Manchester...
, and an aqueduct to convey the water to the Arnfield reservoir where it would pass through the Mottram Tunnel
Mottram Tunnel
The Mottram Tunnel is a tunnel carrying drinking water by gravity from Arnfield Reservoir, Tintwistle, Derbyshire in the valley of the River Etherow, to Godley, Greater Manchester in the valley of the River Tame. It was essential to the construction of the Longdendale Chain of reservoirs...
to Godley
Godley Reservoir
The Godley Reservoir is a reservoir in Hyde, Greater Manchester in England. It was completed in 1851, as a critical part of the Longdendale Chain project that brought fresh water to Manchester....
.
It was stated in a statutory report, under the Reservoir Safety Act 1975, dated 12 June, that all five reservoirs could be over-topped during a Probable Maximum Flood. Woodhead, as the fountainhead, would require the most drastic improvements, but Torside needed crest remedial work. The wave wall was demolished and replaced with one 4.04 metres above the overflow sill. The claycore was extended to 1.34 metres above overflow sill and the road level was raised to 3.29m. The work took place between 1993 and 1994.