Ruins of 80-Year-Old Villages Emerge from Drought-Stricken UK Reservoir
Low water levels at Ladybower Reservoir expose the remnants of Derwent and Ashopton, submerged in the 1940s for water supply.
The lingering effects of a severe summer drought in the United Kingdom have led to the unearthing of two villages abandoned over 80 years ago. The villages of Derwent and Ashopton, submerged in the 1940s to create the Ladybower Reservoir in Derbyshire, have reappeared as water levels have fallen drastically.
This is not the first time the villages have been visible; they were last exposed in 2018. However, the current drought conditions have revealed extensive outlines of dozens of limestone cottages that once housed over 100 people. Aerial images show the former streets and foundations, offering a rare glimpse into a community that disappeared beneath the water more than half a century ago.
The deliberate flooding of the Derwent Valley, which also submerged historic buildings and churches, was part of the construction of the Upper Derwent Valley reservoir system. This system is crucial for supplying water to Derby, Sheffield, Nottingham, and Leicester. With current water levels at Ladybower Reservoir at just 32 percent capacity, the remnants of Derwent and Ashopton have become visible once more.
The unearthing of these villages coincides with a worsening drought situation across England. Reports indicate that some ministers have been warned that reservoirs could run dry, potentially causing significant disruption ahead of the Christmas season. Despite recent autumn storms, several areas remain under hosepipe bans.
Government emergency committee COBRA has been holding crisis talks twice weekly concerning water provision, particularly in the south-west of England and Sussex. Officials have developed contingency plans for a 'Day Zero' scenario, where reservoirs could become completely depleted. Such a situation could lead to taps running dry in homes and impact essential infrastructure projects, including nuclear power plant construction.
Other reservoirs are also critically low. Wimbleball Reservoir, which serves over 400,000 people in Somerset, is at 13 percent capacity, while Ardingly Reservoir in West Sussex, serving 280,000 customers, is at 17 percent capacity. These regions experienced their driest April to September period in over a century.
Doug Clarke, Severn Trent's water resources lead, acknowledged the prolonged period of below-average rainfall and high temperatures, stating that reservoir levels will take time to recover. He noted that while reservoirs constitute about a third of their water supply, with the remainder coming from rivers and groundwater, their teams are actively working to treat water and repair leaks. He also urged customers to continue conserving water throughout the year to ensure sufficient supply for everyone.
