Lost village emerges from reservoir during UK drought

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 22 Oct, 19:03 · Archive

The village of Derwent, flooded deliberately in the 1940s to create Ladybower Reservoir, has reappeared as water levels dropped to 32 per cent capacity.

The village of Derwent in Derbyshire has emerged from beneath Ladybower Reservoir for the first time in decades as prolonged drought conditions have drastically lowered water levels. The reservoir now stands at just under 32 per cent capacity following months of below-average rainfall and above-average temperatures across the East Midlands. The village was deliberately flooded in the 1940s during the construction of Ladybower Reservoir between 1935 and 1943. The flooding also submerged a neighbouring village, Ashopton, along with historic limestone cottages, churches and farmhouses. The reservoir was built to supply fresh water to Sheffield, Derby, Nottingham and Leicester, though locals strongly opposed the plan at the time.

The re-emergence of stone foundations and former structures has attracted visitors to the site. Severn Trent Water has urged people to keep to designated paths, warning that the newly exposed reservoir bed is extremely muddy and unsafe to walk on. According to the Environment Agency, approximately 82 per cent of England remains in drought conditions following one of the driest April-to-September periods recorded in over a century. Around 18 major reservoir groups are operating at under half their normal capacity, and officials say significant rainfall over autumn and winter will be required for levels to recover.

How it is being reported

• Beautifully preserved buildings seen for first time in decades after drought exposes lost villageRecord-breaking dry weather has exposed the ruins of Derwent for the first time in yearsThe Independent · 22 Oct, 18:32
• Lost village hidden for decades under reservoir reappears after horrific UK droughtThe village of Derwent, in Derbyshire, was lost for decades after it was deliberately flooded to make way for a reservoir that would service cities in South Yorkshire and the MidlandsThe Mirror · 22 Oct, 15:04

In this story: Derwent · Derbyshire · Ladybower Reservoir · Severn Trent Water · Environment Agency · Sheffield · Derby · Nottingham

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