Description and History of Site:-
Originally a potable water reservoir. No longer required for that purpose, became Ulley Country Park, a recreational centre including sailing club, angling and wildlife conservation areas in the 1980's. Constructed between 1872 and 1876 for the Rotherham Corporation Water Works under Parliamentary powers enacted in 1863. Previously, Rotherham had obtained its water from Ulley Brook and from a spring at Pinch Mill near Morthern to the north east. In 1872, while the scheme was being constructed 'The Engineer' of March 29th in that year provided some details:

"The embankment is 650 ft. in length; 52 ft. in perpendicular height, and some 300 ft. wide at its base. The puddle trench is now opened out, and has reached a depth of about 40 ft., without having, it is stated, reached satisfactory strata. The puddle wall will be of clay, in the usual way, in 6 in. layers, well kneaded together. The remaining component parts of the embankment will be picked material and earth, the whole faced with rough stone work. The water thus impounded, will have a surface area of about 30 acres, and the contents are estimated to be about 150,000,000 gallons."

The construction also entailed diversion of the Aughton turnpike road, which then ran along the bottom of the valley, over the northern arm of the reservoir on a viaduct of four arches, each having a span of 45 ft. It was completed in 1876.

By 1985 there was no longer a need for water supply from the reservoir and it was sold to Rotherham council, becoming the Ulley Country Park in 1986.

In June 2007, the earth dam became badly eroded by the torrential rainwater that poured over the edges of the concrete spillway that ran down the side of the dam. Concerns over the possibility of the dam giving way completely caused the closure of the M1 motorway, and the evacuation of some local areas, for several days while the reservoir was partly drained. Subsequently the dam was reinforced using corrugated steel and concrete piles. A completely new spillway was constructed beginning in September 2009 and completed by June 2010.

The reservoir and park were re-opened in 2010.

Further Reading and References:-
http://www.j31.co.uk/ulley_res_repair09.htm
https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Engineering_1872/03/29
http://friendsofulley.com/history/
https://waterprojectsonline.com/wp-content/uploads/case_studies/2011/Ulley-Reservoir-Rehabilitation-Scheme-2011.pdf?looking=case-study

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Key Words :- water supply impounding reservoir

Address :- Pleasley Road, Aughton, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S26 3XL
Grid Ref :- SK 45302 87656
Co-ordinates :- Lat 53.383815 , Long -1.320388
Local Authority :- Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
Pre 1974 County :- Yorkshire - West Riding
Site Status :- Site extant - Protected status unknown
Site Condition :- Site conserved and open to the public
Site Dates :- 1876 - 1982
Record Date :- 27 September 2019

Copyright :- cc-by-nc-sa 4.0 © Nick Nelson