Grimwith Reservoir Explained

Grimwith Reservoir
Pushpin Map:North Yorkshire
Pushpin Map Alt:Relief map of North Yorkshire
Location:Yorkshire Dales, England
Coords:54.08°N -1.9114°W
Type:Reservoir
Inflow:Blea Beck, Gate Up Gill, Grimwith Beck
Outflow:River Dibb
Catchment:25.5km2
Basin Countries:United Kingdom
Area:1.47km2
Depth:14.8m (48.6feet)[1]
Volume:21772000m2
Elevation:308m (1,010feet)

Grimwith Reservoir is located in the Yorkshire Dales in North Yorkshire, England. It was originally built by the Bradford Corporation as one of eleven reservoirs in the Yorkshire Dales to supply fresh water to Bradford. It is the largest reservoir owned by Yorkshire Water in terms of water storage. It is near the villages of Appletreewick, Burnsall, Hartlington, Hebden, and Skyreholme.

History

Grimwith (pronounced Grim'ath)[2] is accessed from the B6265 road 1.5miles east of Hebden and 8miles west of Pateley Bridge. With a surface area of 1.47km2 and holding 21772000m2 of water it is Yorkshire Water's largest reservoir.[3]

The original reservoir was completed in 1864 by the Bradford Corporation, the Local Authority for the city of Bradford, covered 102 acres, contained up to 670 million gallons and was approximately 288m (945feet) above sea level in Wharfedale.[4] This involved the abandonment of the hamlets of Grimwith and Gate Up, which would be flooded as part of the reservoir. Grimwith was intended to be a compensation reservoir, rather than be used for storage, and of the eleven reservoirs built by the Bradford Corporation, Grimwith was the most distant at from Bradford town centre (Bradford at that time, was not yet a city).[5] Following an agreement made in 1970 the size of the reservoir was increased by seven times and the water level was raised by 20m (70feet), with work starting in 1976 and being completed in 1983.[6] The reservoir outlet is the site of a renewable energy project that saw the installation of a small turbine that generates 1400 MWh of electricity per annum.[7]

The reservoir is an important area for birds and is home to wildfowl such as Eurasian wigeon, teal, greylag geese and Canada geese.[8] Other birds that can be seen at various times in the area include ringed plover, northern lapwing, common redshank, Eurasian curlew, reed bunting, lesser redpoll, whinchat and sedge warbler.[9]

The reservoir is a popular destination for leisure activities such as sailing, walking and visitors to Stump Cross Caverns. A 7.2km (04.5miles) wheelchair-accessible footpath / track circumnavigates the reservoir.[10] [11] The Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club have their facilities on the south side of the reservoir,[12] and regularly hold meets and sailing championships. In 2019, the club announced that it had been awarded Recognised Training Centre status by the Royal Yachting Association.[13]

At the eastern end of the reservoir is a grade II listed barn. The Cruck Barn used to be further west, but was reconstructed on its present site above the waterline to preserve it. This type of barn is rare for the Yorkshire Dales. Its origins were in the 16th century and was rebuilt in 1982 when the reservoir was extended.[14]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Grimwith Reservoir . Catchment Data Explorer . Environment Agency . 6 June 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160808131458/http://environment.data.gov.uk/catchment-planning/WaterBody/GB30429866 . 8 August 2016 . live .
  2. News: Smith . Jonathan . COUNTRY WALK: A circuit of Grimwith Reservoir . 7 January 2019 . York Press . 16 June 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190107233025/https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/16293461.country-walk-a-circuit-of-grimwith-reservoir/ . 7 January 2019 . live .
  3. Web site: Grimwith reservoir . . 22 August 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090514014156/http://www.yorkshirewater.com/?OBH=249&ID=2070 . 14 May 2009 . live .
  4. Book: The Surveyor and Municipal and County Engineer . v. 61 . 1922 . 29 April 2019 . 45 . Grimwith reservoir was completed in 1864, and Chelker reservoir in 1866. ' The construction of the Horton Bank and Brayshaw service reservoirs and the Leeming and Leeshaw (compensation) reservoirs were authorised by the Act of 1868, ....
  5. Web site: Dennison . Ed . Grimwith House, Grimwith Reservoir, Appletreewick, North Yorkshire; Architectural Assessment . outofoblivion.org.uk . 7 January 2019 . 5 . January 2011.
  6. News: Craven Through The Years . 30 November 2015 . Telegraph and Argus . 15 August 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151208092538/http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/2425168.Craven_through_the_years/ . 8 December 2015 . live .
  7. Web site: Renewable energy . 12 October 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120423142720/http://www.jnbentley.co.uk/344/grimwith.html?phpMyAdmin=9u7flC0jCFuYj,tE2Sm4tkDsWx2 . 23 April 2012 . live .
  8. Web site: Grimwith Reservoir . Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority . 22 August 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090513025727/http://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/grimwith_reservoir.htm . 13 May 2009 . dead .
  9. News: Smith . Jonathan . Peaceful circuit of reservoir . Darlington & Stockton Times . 29–2018 . 20 July 2018 . 61 . 2516-5348.
  10. Web site: Walk 1573 – Grimwith Reservoir . Walking Britain . 6 June 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160629154113/http://www.walkingbritain.co.uk/walk-1573-description . 29 June 2016 . live .
  11. Web site: Smith . Bob . Dales 'missing link' improved to help disabled visitors at Grimwith Reservoir . Grough . grough.co.uk . 6 June 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160701061243/http://www.grough.co.uk/magazine/2015/10/23/dales-missing-link-improved-to-help-disabled-visitors-at-grimwith-reservoir . 1 July 2016 . live .
  12. News: Tate . Lesley . An easy walk round Grimwith Reservoir – and watch out for the spaceship . 7 January 2019 . Craven Herald . 14 April 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190107233028/https://www.cravenherald.co.uk/daleslife/walking/14426697.an-easy-walk-round-grimwith-reservoir-and-watch-out-for-the-spaceship/ . 7 January 2019 . live .
  13. News: Chapman. Hannah. Club shortlisted for award . Darlington & Stockton Times . 52–2019 . 27 December 2019 . 64. 2516-5348.
  14. Web site: Out of Oblivion: A landscape through time . outofoblivion.org.uk . 7 January 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160404043156/http://www.outofoblivion.org.uk/record.asp?id=256 . 4 April 2016 . live .

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