Stockport Corporation took over Stockport and District Waterworks Company in 1899 and immediately started investigating potential new water supplies.
James Mansergh, consulting engineer, identified a site above Hayfield.
Abram Kellett of Ealing was contracted to build a masonry dam and a standard gauge railway to convey materials and workers to the site (though some navvies and their families lived in temporary huts built a short distance down the valley).
Two farms were demolished during the construction.
Work started in 1903 but geological difficulties prompted suspension of construction in 1905 and eventually a change in design to a clay/earth dam.
Stockport Corporation and the original contractor (Kelletts) resorted to the courts over financial issues and the Corporation's unilateral termination of the contract.
Construction eventually resumed in 1908, under the supervision of G H Hill and Sons.
The opening ceremony was held on 11 July 1912.
The reservoir has a capacity of approximately 2,289,000,000 litres (504,000,000 imp gal) and a surface area of 17.83 hectares (44.1 acres).
The adjacent filter house was decommissioned in 1996, following the opening of the new Wybersley Water Treatment Works at High Lane, near Stockport, to which the reservoir's water is now piped for treatment.
Stockport Corporation took over Stockport and District Waterworks Company in 1899 and immediately started investigating potential new water supplies. James Mansergh, consulting engineer, identified a site above Hayfield. Abram Kellett of Ealing was contracted to build a masonry dam and a standard gauge railway to convey materials and workers to the site (though some navvies and their families lived in temporary huts built a short distance down the valley). Two farms were demolished during the construction. Work started in 1903 but geological difficulties prompted suspension of construction in 1905 and eventually a change in design to a clay/earth dam. Stockport Corporation and the original contractor (Kelletts) resorted to the courts over financial issues and the Corporation's unilateral termination of the contract. Construction eventually resumed in 1908, under the supervision of G H Hill and Sons. The opening ceremony was held on 11 July 1912. The reservoir has a capacity of approximately 2,289,000,000 litres (504,000,000 imp gal) and a surface area of 17.83 hectares (44.1 acres). The adjacent filter house was decommissioned in 1996, following the opening of the new Wybersley Water Treatment Works at High Lane, near Stockport, to which the reservoir's water is now piped for treatment.
River Kinder