Valehouse Reservoir
Encyclopedia
Valehouse Reservoir is a man-made lake
in Longdendale
in north Derbyshire
. It was built between 1865 and 1869 as part of the Longdendale chain, which was built to supply water from the River Etherow
to the urban areas of Greater Manchester
while maintaining a constant flow into the river. The upper reservoirs supply the drinking water, while Vale House and Bottoms
are compensation reservoirs which guarantee the flow of water to water-powered mills downstream. Valehouse, with a crest elevation of 503 m, is too low to supply water under gravity to the Mottram tunnel
, so could not be used as an impounding reservoir. Today 45 megalitres of compensation water are released each day into the River Etherow.
Vale House Mill was purchased by Manchester Corporation in 1864, but a few villagers remained in the village of Vale House until 1868. In 1869 the hamlet was flooded out. The village was substantial, having an estimated population of 600 houses and 100 cottages. There was a gasworks and a school house for 24-30 scholars. Vale House Mill was the first spinning and weaving mill in Longdendale; it was built in 1775 by Samuel Oldknow. In 1864 it was owned by William Hobbs and Co. It had two carding rooms, nine spinning rooms, three weaving rooms and two Blowing Rooms. It had 15416 spindles and 326 power looms. Vale House residents worshipped at the Ebenezer Methodist Chapel in Tintwistle (built 1830), which was above the reservoir.
The chimney at Vale House Mill was demolished in 1887 at the request of the Manchester to Sheffield Railway Company, who feared for the stability of their trains when all the passenger crowded over to one side of a carriage to see the chimney.
The puddle trench was dug to a depth of 35 ft to a layer of Lower Millstone Grit, which rested on Limestone Shales, and a good watertight seal was easily achieved.
It was stated in a statuary report, under the Reservoir Safety Act 1975, dated 12 June 1984, that all five reservoirs could be over-topped during a Probable Maximum Flood, so major works were undertaken. The retention level was raisd by 3.81 m, the embankment crest by 1.8 metres, and the wave wall was rebuilt. A 80 m wide auxiliary spillway was constructed, two new 900 mm butterfly valves installed and existing valves descaled and motorised. The 11kV overhead powerline was routed in a new embankment crest duct.
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 built between 1865 and 1869 as part of the Longdendale chain, which was built 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...
while maintaining a constant flow into the river. The upper reservoirs supply the drinking water, while Vale House and Bottoms
Bottoms Reservoir, Derbyshire
Bottoms Reservoir is a man-made lake in Longdendale in north Derbyshire, England. It was constructed between 1865 and 1877, by John Frederick Bateman as part of the Longdendale chain to supply water from the River Etherow to the urban areas of Greater Manchester...
are compensation reservoirs which guarantee the flow of water to water-powered mills downstream. Valehouse, with a crest elevation of 503 m, is too low to supply water under gravity to 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...
, so could not be used as an impounding reservoir. Today 45 megalitres of compensation water are released each day into the River Etherow.
Vale House Mill was purchased by Manchester Corporation in 1864, but a few villagers remained in the village of Vale House until 1868. In 1869 the hamlet was flooded out. The village was substantial, having an estimated population of 600 houses and 100 cottages. There was a gasworks and a school house for 24-30 scholars. Vale House Mill was the first spinning and weaving mill in Longdendale; it was built in 1775 by Samuel Oldknow. In 1864 it was owned by William Hobbs and Co. It had two carding rooms, nine spinning rooms, three weaving rooms and two Blowing Rooms. It had 15416 spindles and 326 power looms. Vale House residents worshipped at the Ebenezer Methodist Chapel in Tintwistle (built 1830), which was above the reservoir.
The chimney at Vale House Mill was demolished in 1887 at the request of the Manchester to Sheffield Railway Company, who feared for the stability of their trains when all the passenger crowded over to one side of a carriage to see the chimney.
The puddle trench was dug to a depth of 35 ft to a layer of Lower Millstone Grit, which rested on Limestone Shales, and a good watertight seal was easily achieved.
It was stated in a statuary report, under the Reservoir Safety Act 1975, dated 12 June 1984, that all five reservoirs could be over-topped during a Probable Maximum Flood, so major works were undertaken. The retention level was raisd by 3.81 m, the embankment crest by 1.8 metres, and the wave wall was rebuilt. A 80 m wide auxiliary spillway was constructed, two new 900 mm butterfly valves installed and existing valves descaled and motorised. The 11kV overhead powerline was routed in a new embankment crest duct.