Thruscross Reservoir Explained
Thruscross Reservoir is the northernmost of four reservoirs in the Washburn valley, lying north of Otley and west of Harrogate in North Yorkshire, England, near the hamlet of Thruscross. It can be found on an unclassified road from the A59 road[1] (where the road from Otley joins). Permission to construct the reservoir was granted via a water order in 1960[2] and Thruscross was completed in 1966,[3] much later than the other three reservoirs which date back to the nineteenth century.[4]
Flooded village
The construction of the reservoir flooded the village of West End,[5] which was already largely derelict following the decline of the flax industry. There is another hamlet close to the reservoir that retains the name of West End.[6] The remains of a flax mill can be seen at the edge of the reservoir, and more of the village has been revealed at times of drought, such as the summers of 1989 and 1990.[7] The work to build the reservoir included clearing trees, removing sacred items from the church, and exhuming bodies from the graveyard.[8] [9]
Management
The reservoir is the property of Yorkshire Water, which manages it for the benefit of walkers, anglers and wildlife. The section of the river below the reservoir is used for whitewater kayaking when water is released by Yorkshire Water.[10]
Cultural references
In the novel In a Dry Season by the English-born, Canadian-based crime writer Peter Robinson, the fictional village of Hobb's End, flooded by the creation of the Thornfield Reservoir, is exposed during a drought, leading to the discovery of a body.[11] The geography described by Robinson indicates that he based the location of Hobb's End on the village of West End. The small bridge over the Washburn becomes the 'Fairy Bridge' and the flax mill is mentioned explicitly.
External links
Notes and References
- News: Motorists urged to use official diversion route after A59 Kex Gill closure – with further monitoring due on Monday . 18 January 2016. Craven Herald. 9 January 2016.
- Web site: The Discovery Service. Government of the United Kingdom. 18 January 2016.
- News: Priestley. Mike. Thruscross Reservoir. 18 January 2016. Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 8 September 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20160114022913/http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/leisure/taleisurewalks/3653385.Thruscross_Reservoir/. 14 January 2016. live.
- Web site: Claydon. J. R.. Knott. D. L. Carter. I. C.. The Washburn Valley Reservoirs – spillway improvements. British Dams. Yorkshire Water. 18 January 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160508151152/http://www.britishdams.org/2004conf/papers/claydon.pdf. 8 May 2016. live.
- Web site: Thruscross Reservoir – North Yorkshire – Walk 1574 – a walk description from Walking Britain. walkingbritain.co.uk. 18 January 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160305135534/http://www.walkingbritain.co.uk/walks/walks/walk_b/1574/. 5 March 2016. live.
- Web site: GENUKI: Fewston Supplementary. genuki.org.uk. 18 January 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304060118/http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/YKS/WRY/Fewston/more.html. 4 March 2016. live.
- News: Thruscross Reservoir walk with submerged village. 18 January 2016. Wharfedale Observer. 14 June 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20160307081758/http://www.wharfedaleobserver.co.uk/leisure/10486417.Thruscross_Reservoir_walk_with_submerged_village/. 7 March 2016. live.
- Web site: Nidderdale AONB. Visit Nidderdale. 18 January 2016. 11. 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20160307185630/http://www.nidderdaleaonb.org.uk/Documents/Visit%20Nidderdale%202014_Web.pdf. 7 March 2016. live.
- News: Berry. Chris. Life before the reservoirs retold in picturesque valley. 18 January 2016. Yorkshire Post. 5 April 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20160311075235/http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/environment/life-before-the-reservoirs-retold-in-picturesque-valley-1-6540831. 11 March 2016. live.
- Web site: Washburn Calendar . British Canoeing . 8 February 2020.
- News: Underwater mysteries resurface in podcast. 18 January 2016. Harrogate Advertiser. 2 August 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304012953/http://www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/news/local/underwater-mysteries-resurface-in-podcast-1-2635636. 4 March 2016. live.
