NOW A RESERVOIR

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 85, 10 April 1943, Page 3

NOW A RESERVOIR

FAMOUS BEAUTY SPOT VILLAGE BELOW WATER A village in England now lies covered by the waters of a vast reservoir. It was once a famous beauty spot—Ashopton in the great hills of a lovely Peak district. To it came motorists and hikers from all over the country and even from abroad. Just before it became a reservoir it looked as if the worst of all air raids had struck it to the ground. All inhabitants had gone—some to nearby villages, some farther afield. In certain cases houses had been built higher up the hillside, above the level of the waters. The village had a population of about 100. Its life was ■ centred on the old inn, once a famous coaching house at which horses were changeda on the arduous journey from Manchester to Sheffield. In more recent years it became a rendezvous for American tourists. Then it became derelict and was partly demolished. Everything that had any value for salvage was removed. The stones of the charming old Cock Bridge Farm, just outside the village, were used for the foundations of the new road above the reservoir level. The old Methodist chapel, built 100 years ago, in the end was nothing but a pile of stones. The reservoir contains millions of gallons of water and now the village lies 100 ft below high water level. The water serves the cities of Sheffield, Leicester, Derby and Nottingham.