Reservoir Construction

A Memory of Derwent Reservoir.

I lived at Benfieldside at the time the reservoir was being constructed and the lady next door (Mrs McKay) used to take in lodgers. One of the engineers working on the reservoir lived there for some time -.he worked for John Mowlem & Co. I have vivid memories of his gorgeous sports car, a soft top MGA in cream with red leather seats, which I hanker after to this day. He once took my friend and me, in the car up to the reservoir and showed us round the construction site. You can imagine how excited two ten year olds were. As construction progressed, my dad would often take me for a drive up to Edmundbyers to see how things were changing. It was strange to watch the countryside gradually disappearing beneath the water as it filled. I can't remember how long it took to fill up but I think it was quite a long time.

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