Lamaload Reservoir
Encyclopedia
Lamaload Reservoir is a reservoir
near Rainow
, Cheshire
, England . It lies in the South West Peak within the Peak District
National Park, to the west of the Goyt Valley, and is fed by the River Dean
. It serves Macclesfield
, which lies to its west. The reservoir and associated water treatment
works are owned by United Utilities
.
Built between 1958 and 1964 by Costain Construction Company
, Lamaload was the first concrete reservoir in England. At 308 metres above sea level, the dam is of a round-headed buttress type construction and can contain 420,000,000 imperial gallons (1,910,000 m³) of water forming the reservoir. The public car park was built on the location of the pre-existing Lamaload Farm buildings, some of which are now used to house the public amenities at the site.
Among the most popular locations for tourists in the South West Peak, Lamaload is used for fishing
and birdwatching
, and also forms an important access point for walkers
to the surrounding moorland. Shining Tor
, the highest point in Cheshire, and Windgather Rocks
, lie within a few miles. The reservoir is surrounded by moorland, broad-leaved woodland and plantations of larch and pine. Facilities include a car park (not open all year) and picnic tables.
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
near Rainow
Rainow
Rainow is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire East, located, mostly, on the eastern side of the River Dean valley next to the B5470 road, between Macclesfield and Kettleshulme in the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It straddles the eastern side of the Peak...
, Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
, England . It lies in the South West Peak within the Peak District
Peak District
The Peak District is an upland area in central and northern England, lying mainly in northern Derbyshire, but also covering parts of Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Staffordshire, and South and West Yorkshire....
National Park, to the west of the Goyt Valley, and is fed by the River Dean
River Dean
The River Dean rises at Longclough in Macclesfield Forest on the western edge of the Peak District foothills above the village of Rainow in north east Cheshire, England.Together with a number of tributary streams it is impounded by the dam at Lamaload...
. It serves Macclesfield
Macclesfield
Macclesfield is a market town within the unitary authority of Cheshire East, the county palatine of Chester, also known as the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The population of the Macclesfield urban sub-area at the time of the 2001 census was 50,688...
, which lies to its west. The reservoir and associated water treatment
Water treatment
Water treatment describes those processes used to make water more acceptable for a desired end-use. These can include use as drinking water, industrial processes, medical and many other uses. The goal of all water treatment process is to remove existing contaminants in the water, or reduce the...
works are owned by United Utilities
United Utilities
United Utilities Group PLC is the UK's largest listed water business. The Group owns and manages the regulated water and waste water network in the north west England, through it subsidiary United Utilities Water PLC , which is responsible for the vast majority of the group's assets and...
.
Built between 1958 and 1964 by Costain Construction Company
Costain Group
Costain Group plc is a British construction and civil engineering company headquartered in Maidenhead. It was part of the original Channel Tunnel consortium and is involved in Private Finance Initiative projects.-History:...
, Lamaload was the first concrete reservoir in England. At 308 metres above sea level, the dam is of a round-headed buttress type construction and can contain 420,000,000 imperial gallons (1,910,000 m³) of water forming the reservoir. The public car park was built on the location of the pre-existing Lamaload Farm buildings, some of which are now used to house the public amenities at the site.
Among the most popular locations for tourists in the South West Peak, Lamaload is used for fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
and birdwatching
Birdwatching
Birdwatching or birding is the observation of birds as a recreational activity. It can be done with the naked eye, through a visual enhancement device like binoculars and telescopes, or by listening for bird sounds. Birding often involves a significant auditory component, as many bird species are...
, and also forms an important access point for walkers
Hillwalking
In the British Isles, the terms hillwalking or fellwalking are commonly used to describe the recreational outdoor activity of walking on hills and mountains, often with the intention of visiting their summits...
to the surrounding moorland. Shining Tor
Shining Tor
Shining Tor is a hill in the Peak District of England, between the towns of Buxton and Macclesfield, lying on the border between Derbyshire and Cheshire. Its summit is the highest point in Cheshire...
, the highest point in Cheshire, and Windgather Rocks
Windgather rocks
The Windgather Rocks is a gritstone crag on the Derbyshire–Cheshire border in England. It is in the Peak District National Park and is a popular site for learning the rudiments of rock climbing. As the name suggests the area is exposed to the prevailing winds, being above sea level.-Links:***...
, lie within a few miles. The reservoir is surrounded by moorland, broad-leaved woodland and plantations of larch and pine. Facilities include a car park (not open all year) and picnic tables.