Derwent Dam
The Derwent Dams were constructed by the Derwent Valley Water Board (now Severn-Trent) to supply fresh clean water to the fast-expanding industrial populations of Sheffield, Derby, Nottingham and Leicester.
The first two massive masonry dams constructed were the Howden and Derwent, between 1902 and 1916. During construction a temporary village, known as Tin Town because of its corrugated iron walls and roofs, housed the 1,000 or so navvies (labourers) and their families.
During the Second World War, the two original Derwent Dams were used for practice flights by 617 Squadron – known as “the Dam Busters”. They were chosen because they closely matched the target dams in the Ruhr Valley in Germany. The Derwent Dams were later used as the backdrop to the 1955 film The Dam Busters.
Derwent Dam
The Derwent Dams were constructed by the Derwent Valley Water Board (now Severn-Trent) to supply fresh clean water to the fast-expanding industrial populations of Sheffield, Derby, Nottingham and Leicester.
The first two massive masonry dams constructed were the Howden and Derwent, between 1902 and 1916. During construction a temporary village, known as Tin Town because of its corrugated iron walls and roofs, housed the 1,000 or so navvies (labourers) and their families.
During the Second World War, the two original Derwent Dams were used for practice flights by 617 Squadron – known as “the Dam Busters”. They were chosen because they closely matched the target dams in the Ruhr Valley in Germany. The Derwent Dams were later used as the backdrop to the 1955 film The Dam Busters.