Gradually working our way full circle, this is back in the Goyt Valley and the Fernilee Reservoir. Built in 1938, Fernilee was the first of the two reservoirs in the valley. It was constructed by Stockport Water Corporation, now part of North West Water, and cost £480,000. According to Sacristan's family lore, his maternal grandfather was a site foreman on the construction.
When full, the reservoir holds 4,900 million litres of water which supplies drinking water to Stockport and the surrounding towns.
The water treatment works below the dam were constructed using stone from the demolished Errwood Hall.
Once, the Cromford and High Peak Railway had a branch running along here; constructed in 1831 and abandoned in 1892. From 1874, it ran a passenger service, but this was stopped in 1877 after a fatal accident. The lower part of the line runs along the side of the reservoir and is now a footpath. At the end of this section is the Bunsall Incline, which has a maximum gradient of 1:7 and was served by stationary steam engines which used to haul up the heavy trains. Today, the incline has become the route of the road out of the valley.
Lovely! Not a breath of wind the day you visited! That reflection...mirror perfect :)
ReplyDeleteWELCOME BACK! So pleased to hear Mark is better. I know exactly what you mean about missing him already :) Good to know you're having real Spring weather and got to enjoy a lovely day!
ReplyDeleteMy camera is a Nikon D3 100 and I'll be able to share my husband's lenses. It's very exciting, but I have a lot to learn.
Hope tomorrow is even more perfect, weather-wise, than today was and you can get out and about with your camera, too!
Glad you drove safely. We missed your sombre colors!
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