Torside Reservoir is the largest man-made lake in Longdendale in north Derbyshire, England. It was constructed by John Frederick Bateman between April 1849 and July 1864 as part of the Longdendale Chain of reservoirs to supply water from the River Etherow to the urban areas of Greater Manchester.[1][2]

Torside Reservoir
A tree framed shot of a reservoir with hills on either side
viewed from the east
Torside Reservoir is located in Derbyshire
Torside Reservoir
Torside Reservoir
LocationDerbyshire
Coordinates53°28′55″N 1°54′14″W / 53.482°N 1.904°W / 53.482; -1.904
Lake typeimpounding reservoir
Primary inflowsRiver Etherow, Crowden Brook, Torside Clough
Primary outflowsRiver Etherow
Basin countriesUnited Kingdom
Max. length2.25 km (1.40 mi)
Surface area160 acres (65 ha)
Average depth26 m (85 ft)
Water volume6,700 ML (1.5×109 imp gal)
Surface elevation653 ft (199 m)

The Manchester Corporation Waterworks Act 1847 (10 & 11 Vict. c. cciii) gave permission for the construction of the Woodhead and Arnfield reservoirs; the Manchester Corporation Waterworks Act 1848 allowed the construction of Torside and Rhodeswood Reservoirs, and an aqueduct to convey the water to the Arnfield reservoir where it would pass through the Mottram Tunnel to Godley.

It was stated in a statutory report, under the Reservoir Safety Act 1975, dated 12 June, that all five reservoirs could be overtopped during a Probable Maximum Flood. Woodhead, as the fountainhead, would require the most extensive improvements, but Torside needed crest remedial work. The wave wall was demolished and replaced with one 4 metres (13 ft) above the overflow sill. The claycore was extended to 1.34 m (4 ft 5 in) above overflow sill and the road level was raised to 3.29 m (10.8 ft). The work took place between 1993 and 1994.[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ The Peak District National Park - Fact Zone 21. Longdendale in the National Park Archived 2006-01-04 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ a b Quayle, Tom (2006), Manchester's Water: The reservoirs in the hills, Stroud, Gloucestershire: Tempus Publishing, ISBN 0-7524-3198-6
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Preceded by
Rhodeswood Reservoir
Longdendale Chain Reservoirs
(West to East)
Succeeded by
Woodhead Reservoir


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