Fewston Reservoir

Infobox lake
lake_name = Fewston Reservoir
image_lake = Fewston-overflow.png caption_lake = Reservoir, with the overflow in the foreground
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location = Yorkshire
coords = coord|53.9861|N|1.7246|W|type:waterbody_region:GB|display=inline,title
type = reservoir
inflow = Washburn
outflow = Swinsty Reservoir
catchment =
basin_countries = United Kingdom
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Fewston Reservoir is located in the Washburn valley north of Otley and west of Harrogate in Yorkshire, England. It was built in 1879. The capacity is about 3.5 million cubic metres. It can be found from the A59 road.

The overflow from the reservoir feeds directly into the adjoining Swinsty Reservoir. Formerly, this overflow was encircled by a metal walkway from which floodboards could be lowered [Washburn Valley Yesterday Vol II by David Alred. ISBN 1-85825-160-5] , but this has since been removed.

Construction

The reservoir was built by the Leeds Waterworks Company under the management of Robert Brooks. Consultants were Thomas Hawksley of Westminster and Edward Filliter of Leeds. Work began in 1874 and was completed in 1879 .Lesser Railways of the Yorkshire Dales and the Dam Builders in the Age of Steam by Harold D Bowtell, ISBN 1-871980-09-7]

Early in the work, Fewston Mill was demolished, as was West House Mill at Blubberhouses, with the stone going to build a wall around the reservoir. Much of the machinery, including the locomotives for the narrow gauge railway, came from the construction of neighbouring Swinsty Reservoir.

In 1878, "John Cook", a navvy recently dismissed from the workforce for violent conduct, committed suicide after attempting murder. Local man "John Dickinson" of Timble noted in his diary, "Navvy at waterworks cut his throat with a carving knife. Nearly killed his wife before he did it."Timble Man - Diaries of a Dalesman, by John Dickinson, edited by Ronald Harker (published 1988)]

References

External links

* [http://www.yorkshirewater.com/?OBH=249&ID=2904 Yorkshire Water] - Fewston
* [http://www.ywsonline.co.uk/web/RecDist.nsf/Fewston?OpenPage Yorkshire Water] - leisure activities