Great Harwood Runs Dry, Dean Clough Reservoir

By the mid-19th century Great Harwood, near Blackburn was growing fast. To supply the thirsty mills a reservoir was built above the town. Dean Clough Reservoir was built in two stages, starting in 1848. The original dam was exposed during the drought of 2022. Normally, the water laps under the vegetation near the top of the dam. However, a long dry spell had almost emptied the reservoir.

Dean Clough reservoir, Pic. Google Earth
The later dam, pic G Whittaker

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Great Harwood’s water supply

The Accrington and District Gas and Water Board was formed in 1840. Notably, mills used a lot of water and most had their own reservoirs in the town. However, there was also a need to supply domestic water. Consequently, this led to the building of Dean Clough Reservoir above the town. Additionally, the town also had a gas works. Gas was used for street lighting. It was also used by the wealthier residents for the same purpose.

The first power-driven mill opened in Great Harwood in 1845. Steam engines were used to drive the looms and they required a lot of water. Local reservoirs were used. However, mills gradually converted to electricity and most of Great Harwod’s reservoirs have now been filled in.

1890 map of Great Harwood. Pic Ordnance Survey

Water and disease

By 1851 the population of Great Harwood had reached more than 2500 and there was an increasing problem with waste disposal. Moreover, clean water was essential to prevent diseases such as Cholera. Notably, Cholera epidemics were claiming many victims in large towns and cities, such as London. Unknown at the time, Cholera is a disease caused by sewage contamination of the water supply.

Cholera in Victorian London, Pic Science Museum

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