Description and History of Site:-
A small reservoir of about 23 ha. Built by the Bradford Corporation Waterworks as part of a much wider scheme of impounding and abstraction works in the mid C19. The construction contract included the diversion of the road which now skirts around the margins of the reservoir. Brought into service 1866. Of some interest as it is, unusually, impounded by two similar earth embankment dams, one to the north-west and the other to the south-east margins. Little, if any, water originates from the immediate locality. The reservoir was supplied by gravitation and pumping from the reservoirs on Barden Moor and, from the late1970's, by pumping water from the River Wharfe at Lobwood (NYK01844) to the east.

The two towers (air shafts) on the north-western and south-eastern margins of the reservoir are components of an underground aqueduct (the Barden conduit) which crosses the site beneath the reservoir. The Bradford Corporation, having then only recently purchased the existing private undertaking, assumed an obligation to carry forward the projected Barden scheme in the Wharfe valley. The works were sanctioned by Parliament and received Royal Assent on 3rd July, 1854. The works authorised by this Act were the reservoirs at Grimwith, Lower Barden(NYK02641), Chelker, Silsden, Stubden, Doe Park and Heaton, and also the Barden (Low Level) Conduit and ancillary works.

In 1992 four wind turbines were installed at the reservoir site to supply electricity to the pumping stations at Chelker and Lobwood (on the River Wharfe). Considerable public opposition to the structures was raised at the time of installation, and subsequently, leading to their eventual removal in 2013.

Help us improve this entry

The compilers welcome corrections or additional information on all sites.
Any information provided will be verified before appearing on the web site.

Email comments

Key Words :- potable water storage reservoir waterworks

Address :- A65, Draughton, Ilkley, North Yorkshire, LS29 0JS
Grid Ref :- SE 05292 51800
Co-ordinates :- Lat 53.962257 , Long -1.920831
Local Authority :- Craven District Council
Pre 1974 County :- Yorkshire - West Riding
Site Status :- Site extant - No Protection
Site Condition :- Operational site, in use for original purpose
Site Dates :- 1866 -
Record Date :- 7 June 2021

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