Description and History of Site:-
Compensation (now impounding) reservoir, originally built for Bradford Corporation Water Works.
The reservoir was built by Bradford Corporation Water Works between 1856 and 1864 to provide compensation for abstraction elsewhere from the River Wharfe. The Bradford Observer described the construction in some detail:

"The reservoir is in the course of formation between two lofty hills, which an artificial embankment of about eighty feet in length will unite. It stands at the confluence of two streams on the river Dibb, and at a distance of about three miles and a half from its confluence with the river Wharfe. The water which will he gathered in this reservoir will cover upwards of 100 acres, and will amount to 625,000,000 gallons. The object of this storage, as we have already said, will be to give compensation to the mill owners of the Wharfe - supplying their necessities in droughty seasons. There are 160 work-men including masons, delvers, excavators &c., at present employed at this place. The first sod was cut in February and the work was commenced in March. The time for the completion of the contract is October next year, but there has been much interruption by water and weather. The water is abundant, and frequently rises rapidly and suddenly to the extent of four feet in one hour. The puddle trench however, is got out of water way, and the culvert which will pass under the embankment, is being laid. The embankment in course of construction will be about 250 yards from one hill to the other, and will rise to a height of 82 or 83 feet; the immense body of water which will be dammed up behind it, being about 80 feet deep at the deepest point. Some smaller works in connexion with the contract have been finished. In these are included two culverts at Grimwith bridge and Gate-up-gill-beck, and also a strong breakwater of about 1000 cubic yards.The immediate locality furnishes an abundance of excellent ashlar stone adapted for the work. The contractors are Messrs. Duckett and Stead." (The Bradford Observer, September 24th 1857)

By the 1960s the requirement for potable water had increased so the Corporation negotiated the water rights with local mill owners to further expand the capacity of the reservoir and reduce (or possibly negate) its compensation role. The water level was raised by 20m, the overall area increased to 1150 hectares, the largest expanse of inland water in Yorkshire. The new reservoir opened in 1964. Now operated by Yorkshire Water.

Further Reading and References:-
http://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/visit-the-dales/discover-the-dales/lovely-lakes/grimwith-reservoir
Crossley, J., "Development of Grimwith Reservoir", 2020.

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Key Words :- water supply impounding compensation reservoir

Viewing the Site :- Yorkshire Water (free) car park with toilets, 7km circular walk on good surfaces.

Address :- Hebden, Grassington, North Yorkshire, BD23 5ED
Grid Ref :- SE 05832 64264
Co-ordinates :- Lat 54.074273 , Long -1.912366
Local Authority :- Craven District Council
Pre 1974 County :- Yorkshire - West Riding
Site Status :- Site extant - Protected status unknown
Site Condition :- Operational site, in use for original purpose
Site Dates :- 1864 -
Record Date :- 24 July 2018

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