Vyrnwy dam (Explored)
Vyrnwy dam, Powys, Wales, UK
Liverpool began as a small town, but by the 19th century, it had become a sprawling city and the greatest trading sea port in the world. With an insufficient supply of water, the search began for the perfect place to build a water reservoir that could supply the entire city.
Several dams were constructed throughout northern England, but by 1865, the demand once again exceeded the supply. Mr Deacon, the city engineer of Liverpool, arrived in Llanwddyn in 1877. With more than 400 streams running directly into the Vyrnwy Valley and a solid rock bar lying across the valley bed, he had finally found the perfect place to build a reservoir large enough to supply the city.
The following year, trial shafts were inserted at the site to test if the rock bed would be secure enough to hold an impressive ten billion gallons of water.
With the tests proving successful, the Liverpool Corporation Waterworks act was passed by Parliament and received the Royal Assent on 6th August 1880.
With a work force in place, they began constructing what was the first large masonry dam in Britain and the largest artificial reservoir in Europe at that time. Measuring 144ft high and 1,171ft long, the dam was built using huge blocks of Welsh Granite, construction was completed in 1888.
Meanwhile, the village of Llanwddyn also had to be rebuilt as once the dam was filled, the entire village was lost, . When the water level is low, it is possible to see the remains of the old village which are still standing.
Text source: www.lakevyrnwy.com/history-timeline/
Vyrnwy dam (Explored)
Vyrnwy dam, Powys, Wales, UK
Liverpool began as a small town, but by the 19th century, it had become a sprawling city and the greatest trading sea port in the world. With an insufficient supply of water, the search began for the perfect place to build a water reservoir that could supply the entire city.
Several dams were constructed throughout northern England, but by 1865, the demand once again exceeded the supply. Mr Deacon, the city engineer of Liverpool, arrived in Llanwddyn in 1877. With more than 400 streams running directly into the Vyrnwy Valley and a solid rock bar lying across the valley bed, he had finally found the perfect place to build a reservoir large enough to supply the city.
The following year, trial shafts were inserted at the site to test if the rock bed would be secure enough to hold an impressive ten billion gallons of water.
With the tests proving successful, the Liverpool Corporation Waterworks act was passed by Parliament and received the Royal Assent on 6th August 1880.
With a work force in place, they began constructing what was the first large masonry dam in Britain and the largest artificial reservoir in Europe at that time. Measuring 144ft high and 1,171ft long, the dam was built using huge blocks of Welsh Granite, construction was completed in 1888.
Meanwhile, the village of Llanwddyn also had to be rebuilt as once the dam was filled, the entire village was lost, . When the water level is low, it is possible to see the remains of the old village which are still standing.
Text source: www.lakevyrnwy.com/history-timeline/