Water Supply in Rochdale [leisure trust, arts heritage, sports centres, fitness health, rochdale, link4life, entertainment, Rochdale Boroughwide Cultural Trust, museum, middleton arena, gallery, touchstones, local studies, central, bowlee, springhill, marland, heywood, littleborough,]
Reconstruction work on Warland reservoir (1928)
Inspecting the construction of the dam for Watergrove Reservoir (c.1935)
Rochdale Coucillors inspecting progress at Watergrove Reservoir c 1935
Cowm Reservoir under construction in 1875
Before 1760 people in Rochdale had to rely on wells, spouts (springs), pumps and the River Roch for their water supply. In 1760 Packer Spout (behind where the Town Hall now stands) was diverted into a small stone reservoir to supply piped water to houses in the town centre. This 'reservoir' was called Leyland Brow, and the work was carried out by Messrs. Ralph & Samuel Taylor and John Clegg. A Waterworks Company was formed in 1806, which purchased the small reservoir at Leyland Brow. In 1909 they obtained Parliamentary powers to build other reservoirs in the town.
Some of the best known springs & wells taken over by the waterworks Company were:
- Noon Sun Spring at the corner of Cronkeyshaw Common
- Packer Spout at the top of Packer Meadow – which was already being diverted into a 'reservoir'
- 'Parson Bellows' Well in Well Meadow, near the corner of School Lane & Great George St.
- Wet Rake Spring - and another on St Mary's Gate.
Rochdale Waterworks Company employed a man called Mellor to build their reservoirs. He was a village schoolmaster and farmer who lived near Castleton. He designed and constructed reservoirs at Syke – Buckley Wood, Jepheys, Hamer Pasture, and Brown House. He also designed & supervised the construction of the catch-water drains that surrounded Brown Wardle, Rush Hill, Middle Hill & King Hill; these supplied the water to the various reservoirs named.
Death and disease caused by contaminated water supplies was a major concern of the new Rochdale Corporation when it was formed in 1856. By 1866 they had taken over Rochdale Waterworks Company's reservoirs at Buckley Wood & Jepheys and built further reservoirs at Wham, Spring Mill & Cowm. During droughts additional fresh water was obtained from derelict mine workings.
In 1923 Rochdale and Oldham Corporations made a joint purchase of the five reservoirs on Blackstone Edge that belonged to the Rochdale Canal Company. The reservoirs had been built to supply the Rochdale Canal – along with the water of Hollingworth Lake. These reservoirs are: Blackstone Edge, Lighthazzles, Warland, Chelburn and White Holme. The supply of water was necessary to ensure the flow of water in the canal, which 600 feet above sea level at Summit.
In 1930 work began on Watergrove reservoir at Wardle. It provided work for the unemployed and cost £750,000 to build, coming into use in 1938.
Water supply in Heywood & Middleton
In 1846 Heywood Waterworks Company built the Naden Reservoirs despite objections from local millowners who feared interruptions to their water supplies. In 1855 the company built a further reservoir at Hebers and by 1857 had constructed a water main to take water to Middleton.
In 1877 the Company was transferred to the Heywood Local Board and increased demand led to the construction of reservoirs at Ashworth Moor and Clay Lane.
In 1965 Greenbooth Reservoir was officially opened. It cost over £2 million pounds and flooded Greenbooth Village.
