Ladybower Reservoir

The history of Upper Derwent

The reservoirs of Derwent and Howden were built nearly 100 years ago to supply the cities of Sheffield, Nottingham, Derby and Leicester. Over 1000 people were involved in building them and were housed in the temporary ‘Tin Town’ at Birchinlee. Ladybower was completed in 1945 to supply an ever increasing demand. This resulted in the flooding of the villages of Derwent and Ashopton – when water levels are low, you may get a glimpse of the village remains.

The settlements of Derwent and Ashopton were abandoned to make way for the reservoirs and the imposing neo-gothic dams were built in the deep valley to contain and control the fast flowing moorland rivers. The valley sides were planted with thousands upon thousands of conifers to protect the steep slopes and the precious water below.

What will I find there today?

Today the Upper Derwent Valley is a popular visitor attraction with over 2 million visitors per year. The site is renowned for it’s natural beauty and managed by Severn Trent Water in partnership with Peak District National Park Authority.

What wildlife will I see?

The conifer plantations have been carefully maintained to become vast woodland areas home to the threatened Goshawk. You may also see some of the Red Grouse, Ring Ouzel and Merlin who have made their home on the nearby moorlands of the Dark Peak.

Not many people know...

The Derwent, Howden and Ashopton Resevoirs were in fact once the training site of the famous Dambusters Squadron.