Description and History of Site:-
Compensation reservoir on the Harden Beck. Completed in 1845, engineer J Wignall Leather, for the Bradford Water Works. When the plan to divert and store the water flowing from Manywells spring was proposed (WYK02359), the owners of the mills on Harden Beck objected to the likely diminution of the flow of water (on which their mills relied). The completion of a compensation reservoir, to trap and regulate the flow in Harden Beck, was made a condition of the abstraction of drinking water for distribution to Bradford. The reservoir was completed after some delays due to unexpected slippage in the underlying strata.

On June 12th, the Bradford Observer described the difficulties as "...On this south side something like a “land slip" has occurred, the weight of the embankment being apparently the cause. The effect of the "settling" of the embankment is most painfully apparent in the culvert, or arched drain at the bottom of it, which is constructed for the purpose of drawing off the water of the reservoir. Its strong solid masonry has been rent asunder in one place, and slightly cracked in another, and the drain which originally ran straight through the embankment, is now slightly twisted - indicating that part of the embankment rests on a firm, and another part of it on a loose foundation. It appears that below an upper gravely stratum, there lies at this place a stratum of blue clay. This clay the embankment seems to he pressing from beneath it; for at several places it is bubbling up through the gravely stratum, and making its appearance on the surface."

In spite of these difficulties, the Bradford Observer was able to report, on November 13th 1845, that "On Tuesday, Colonel Tempest and H. W. Wickham, Esq. viewed the compensation-reservoir at Many Wells, formed by the Company upon the line or course of the Hewenden or Harden Beck in pursuance of the Act passed some time ago, for supplying Bradford with water. The Company proved to the satisfaction of these magistrates, who certified by writing under their hands and seals, in the mode prescribed by the act, that the reservoir in question was completely finished and filled with water, and rendered capable of retaining such water. The Company are now, therefore, in a situation to appropriate and divert the Many Wells springs for the use of the inhabitants."

At this point the works for abstraction of the Manywells waters, which had been going on in parallel with the Hewenden construction, could be brought into operation.

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Key Words :- compensation reservoir

Address :- Doll Lane , Cullingworth, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD13 5BN
Grid Ref :- SE 07410 35659
Co-ordinates :- Lat 53.817160 , Long -1.888934
Local Authority :- City of Bradford
Pre 1974 County :- Yorkshire - West Riding
Site Status :- Site extant - Protected status unknown
Site Condition :- Operational site, in use for original purpose
Site Dates :- 1845 -
Record Date :- 17 September 2019

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