Dave
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Post by Dave on Aug 5, 2009 18:36:25 GMT
Here's a challenge: name all of the Dartmoor reservoirs (national park area) and their completion dates.... I will do all Devon reservoir's Barton, but only one at a time and over a few weeks. Today I bring you Barrator Reservoir Burrator Reservoir is in the Southwest corner of Devon, inside the Dartmoor National Park. In 1585 the town of Plymouth was given authorisation by an Act of Parliament to divert the waters of the River Meavy. In 1590, Sir Francis Drake was Mayor of Plymouth, and he pushed through the construction of Drake’s Leat. Some of the River Meavy was diverted at a point now concealed by the reservoir. However, the leat was not able to maintain a constant water supply, as the water froze in winter and evaporated in summer. Work started on the reservoir in 1893 and it was officially opened in 1898. It was enlarged 25 years later in 1923, when the dam height was raised by three metres. The Meavy Valley was flooded to form the dam. The reservoir is managed by SWW. The perimeter is about three and an half miles, and much dog walking, jogging and cycling is enjoyed there. A few modern day photos.     Gathering of spectators and labourers for the start of work on the Burrator Reservoir, 1893  The work begins       Nearly fininished   Royal Naval divers working on a jammed valve at the Burrator Reservoir, 1920s  In the 1920's the dam was raised, while this was being done a suspension bridge was erected to take the traffic to and from Sheepstor. The suspension bridge can be seen on the left of the picture. Opening of the raised Burrator Dam in 1928  Princetown branchline railway passing beside Burrator Reservoir, 1935  The cracked reservoir bed of Burrator Reservoir in the drought of 1959  |
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Post by romfordkev on Aug 5, 2009 19:27:49 GMT
Burrator Reservoir - now that brings back some childhood memories. The most enduring of which would be driving up there with my parents and nan & grandad on a typical "sunday drive" and buying an ice cream from the van. The usual treat would be a vanilla ice cream AND clotted cream wafer...............Mmmmmm. Pure "heaven from Devon"!!  ..........Sod it!! I've dribbled all down my tee shirt!!  |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2009 20:43:05 GMT
Burrator is a classic Victorian reservoir reminiscent of those built in the Pennines by so many Northern cities. Dam-building was big-time stuff all those years ago - and to think that even places such as Paignton (as I'm sure we'll discover) got in on the act. One of those pictures shows the railway line from Yelverton to Princetown which remained open until 1956. Burrator actually had its own station - known as Burrator and Sheepstor Halt - which originally opened for the benefit of those working on the raising of the dam in the 1920s. And Burrator has also been a long-standing treat for the Janners with time, no doubt, for an ice cream at Yelverton on the way home (a strange little place which always looks like it was meant to become rather larger than it ever did). Nice though.... Link for Kev: www.langagefarm.com/shops.htm |
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Dave
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Post by Dave on Aug 5, 2009 20:49:43 GMT
I can tell you Barton that the next one was build not long after Barrator was built and not that far away.  |
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Dave
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Post by Dave on Aug 6, 2009 21:22:36 GMT
Burrator is a classic Victorian reservoir reminiscent of those built in the Pennines by so many Northern cities. Dam-building was big-time stuff all those years ago - and to think that even places such as Paignton (as I'm sure we'll discover) got in on the act.I do not know of any dams in Paignton Barton. I do know around the early 1800's a watercourse above Winner Street was established during the tenure of the medieval bishops, which was culverted to cross Church and Winner Streets leading to the Mill Dam, whose site is now occupied by 51-65 Littlegate Road and the car park behind Is this the one you mean, or is there another? |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2009 21:34:38 GMT
Try Dartmoor!
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Dave
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Post by Dave on Aug 6, 2009 21:39:18 GMT
Already on my list |
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merse
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Post by merse on Aug 7, 2009 2:38:31 GMT
I do not know of any dams in Paignton Barton.  If childhood memories serve me correctly, isn't the reservoir up above Holne on Dartmoor constructed by the old Paignton U.D.C? |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2009 18:38:47 GMT
If childhood memories serve me correctly, isn't the reservoir up above Holne on Dartmoor constructed by the old Paignton U.D.C? That's the one.... And who was the leading cleric who used to holiday at Holne? |
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Dave
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Post by Dave on Aug 17, 2009 19:57:15 GMT
Barton I am working on my next one but I do want to add one last picture on this thread This photograph captures the chief dignitaries at the opening ceremony of the Burrator Reservoir in September 1898. Alderman J.T.Bond (the founder of the solicitors, Bond Pearce) was Lord Mayor of Plymouth and appears in his mayorial robes on the left. On the right, and presenting a silver Loving Cup to be used at the annual "Fyshynge Feast" is the landowner Sir Massey Lopes.  |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 17, 2009 20:25:16 GMT
On the right, and presenting a silver Loving Cup to be used at the annual "Fyshynge Feast" is the landowner Sir Massey Lopes. Given we once played St Just on Feast Day - imagine it! - perhaps Jon can tell us if we ever contested the Loving Cup at the Fyshynge Feast's football competition? (surely they had one?). Or would the 1st Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers, winners of the 1899 Devon Senior Cup, have easily seen off our founding fathers? Hang on, he's found something.... |
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Dave
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Post by Dave on Aug 17, 2009 20:57:56 GMT
I'm sure you will already know Barton, but the cup was for the Fishing Feast This is a shot of it in 1890  |
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