Description and History of Site:-
Earth embankment impounding reservoir on Barden Moor, completed 1874, capacity around 2 million cubic metres, surface area around 23 hectares, maximum depth 19 metres. In September 1857, the Bradford Observer described the construction of the "Barden Broad Park" (now Barden Lower) reservoir; as " the principal storage reservoir for the supply of water to Bradford ... The embankment, rising to a height of 95 feet, will be nearly half a mile in length and 168 yards in width, and will consist of about half a million cubic yards of solid earthwork, pierced with culverts, &c., of handsome, massive ashlar stone-work, to the extent of 97 yards in length". At that time, about 240 workmen were engaged on the site and nearly 100,000 yards of earthwork had been added to the embankment by the contractors Messrs. Swire, Blair and Co. of Shipley. The masonry work was contracted to Mr. Parratt, of Bradford.

The reservoir was completed and brought into service in 1874. Due in part to the peaty and silty nature of the source streams, "Residuum Lodges" were provided at the inlets to the reservoir which encouraged settling out of these impurities before the water flowed into the main storage. These 'lodges' were cleaned out from time to time.

The water from Barden was conducted to Chelker reservoir (NYK01816) by conduit, and from there to Bradford itself.

Further Reading and References:-
Bradford Observer, 24th September 1857.

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Key Words :- potable water impounding reservoir waterworks

Viewing the Site :- Open Access Area

Address :- West of the B6160, Barden, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 6AS
Grid Ref :- SE 03786 56612
Co-ordinates :- Lat 54.005519 , Long -1.943726
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 :- 1857 -
Record Date :- 25 June 2021

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