Dale Dike Reservoir

Dale Dike Reservoir lies in the north-east Peak District, about a mile west of Bradfield and eight miles from Sheffield. It sits on the Dale Dike, a small river that feeds into the Loxley. Four reservoirs were built here between 1859 and 1864 by the Sheffield Waterworks Company. John Gunson designed the works while John Towlerton Leather built the first dam. The reservoir was meant to power mills and supply drinking water to Sheffield’s growing population. The original dam was 29 metres high with a clay core and held 3.24 million cubic metres of water. By March 1864 the reservoir was almost full when, at 11:30 pm on 11 March, the dam collapsed. Over 3.1 billion litres of water rushed down the valley in the Great Sheffield Flood. The disaster destroyed more than 5,000 homes and killed 244 people along the Loxley and Don rivers. The dam was rebuilt in 1875 about 300 metres upstream and still holds 2.06 million cubic metres for drinking water. Yorkshire Water now owns the reservoir, part of the Kelda Group. The reservoir’s quiet waters reflect the surrounding hills and the history of the flood. A walk around the water’s edge passes the rebuilt dam and offers views of the valley below.