Ladybower Reservoir, the Flooded Villages and the Dambusters!

Ladybower Reservoir was our destination today that was built in 1935 to 1943. To build the reservoir, two villages were actually flooded, Derwent and Ashopton.

When the water levels are low you can walk on the bottom of the reservoir and see parts of the lost villages. The last time I saw them was in 2018. Water levels are low again so we paid another visit.

Unfortunately, the water wasn't low enough to see much but there was the old railway structure visible.

The first photo is what Derwent Dam normally looks like with water cascading down the walls. The second photo is what it looked like today. Not a drop of water to be seen.

Another interesting fact about the reservoir is that they practiced the 'bouncing bomb' during the 2nd World War. The bouncing bomb was designed by Barnes Wallis to destroy enemy dams, and battleships. Wing Commander, Guy Gibson and his crew trained here before they attempted the real raid on the dams in the Ruhr Valley, Germany. My mum used to love the old war films so I've seen the old black and white film "The Dambusters" many times.

It is supposed to rain on Sunday so the Water Board will be less twitchy when the reservoirs are replenished.