Blackstone Edge Reservoir

Blackstone Edge Reservoir is a reservoir in the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England. It is close to Blackstone Edge, from which it takes its name,[1] and the border with Calderdale, West Yorkshire.

Blackstone Edge Reservoir
A lake with a rocky shoreline
Blackstone Edge Reservoir is located in Greater Manchester
Blackstone Edge Reservoir
Blackstone Edge Reservoir
LocationGreater Manchester
Coordinates53°39′38″N 2°2′38″W / 53.66056°N 2.04389°W / 53.66056; -2.04389
Typereservoir
Basin countriesUnited Kingdom

History

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Blackstone Edge Reservoir was created in 1798 by William Jessop and the Rochdale Canal Company to supply the Rochdale Canal, which could not be supplied by rivers or streams. The reservoir was planned to be around 20 hectares.[2] This reservoir could hold over 28 million cubic feet of water.[3]

During World War II, barges were placed in the reservoir to prevent German forces to land water planes there. The barges were discovered when the reservoir was drained several decades later.[4]

The reservoir is currently owned by United Utilities.[5]

References

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  1. ^ Waugh, Edwin (1869). Lancashire Sketches. Simpkin, Marshall. p. 154. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  2. ^ Harvey-Fishenden, Alice; Macdonald, Neil (2021). "The development of early reservoirs to supply water to arterial canals in England and Wales". Landscape History. 42 (2): 79–98. doi:10.1080/01433768.2021.1999016. S2CID 245503461.
  3. ^ "Water, water everywhere ... hopefully". Manchester Evening News. 24 April 2005. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  4. ^ "A brief history of the Rochdale canal". Manchester Evening News. 24 April 2005. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  5. ^ "It rained and rained but hosepipe ban stays: Water companies under fire after weekend of heavy rain resulted in flooding and many cancelled events". The Daily Telegraph. 30 July 2018.