Dartmoor reservoirs

Dartmoor reservoirs
Avon reservoir
Avon dam
Meldon dam
Burrator dam

Over the course of the 19th and 20th centuries, a number of reservoirs and dams were built in the area now covered by Dartmoor National Park in Devon, England to supply drinking water to the rapidly growing towns in the surrounding lowlands. With its deep valleys and high rainfall, Dartmoor was an inevitable location. New reservoirs continued construction even after the establishment of the National Park in 1951.

Early schemes to use the moors as a source of drinking water involved the construction of water channels called leats. For example, Drake's Leat (completed 1591) took water to Plymouth and the Devonport Leat (1793) to the docks at Devonport. However, rapid population growth of the seaside communities in the late 19th century and the birth of tourism required a significant improvement in quality and quantity of fresh water.

The first Dartmoor reservoir (Tottiford) opened in 1861 and heralded a busy era of dam construction which continued through to 1907, by which time the Dartmoor area was the site of five reservoirs. Three more were to follow during the course of the mid to late 20th century.

A few long-established Dartmoor farms had to be abandoned and disappeared under the water as a result. During years of drought, some ruins can once again become visible. At Fernworthy, for example, low water levels often reveal the remains of Fernworthy Farm and a small granite Clapper bridge which once crossed the South Teign River. At the Avon reservoir hut circles are visible at very low water levels.

Dartmoor reservoirs

Point Coordinates
(Links to map resources)
OS Grid Ref Notes
Tottiford Reservoir 50°38′10″N 3°40′59″W / 50.636°N 3.683°W / 50.636; -3.683 (Tottiford Reservoir) SX810832 1861, expanded 1865
Kennick Reservoir 50°38′49″N 3°41′38″W / 50.647°N 3.694°W / 50.647; -3.694 (Kennick Reservoir) SX803843 1884
Burrator Reservoir 50°30′00″N 4°02′20″W / 50.500°N 4.039°W / 50.500; -4.039 (Burrator Reservoir) SX554686 1898, expanded 1929
Venford Reservoir 50°31′26″N 3°51′22″W / 50.524°N 3.856°W / 50.524; -3.856 (Venford Reservoir) SX685709 1907
Trenchford Reservoir 50°37′48″N 3°41′28″W / 50.630°N 3.691°W / 50.630; -3.691 (Trenchford Reservoir) SX805824 1907
Fernworthy reservoir 50°38′28″N 3°53′20″W / 50.641°N 3.889°W / 50.641; -3.889 (Fernworthy reservoir) SX665840 1942
Avon Dam Reservoir 50°28′23″N 3°51′54″W / 50.473°N 3.865°W / 50.473; -3.865 (Avon Dam Reservoir) SX677653 1957
Meldon Reservoir 50°42′11″N 4°02′24″W / 50.703°N 4.040°W / 50.703; -4.040 (Meldon Reservoir) SX560912 1972


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