The Enduring Charm of Baitings Reservoir

On a sunny day in May 2014, with a Polaroid iS2132 in hand, I set out to capture the serene beauty of Baitings Reservoir. It's a place that feels both grand and grounded, a testament to human engineering set against the dramatic landscape of the West Yorkshire Pennines.

Located in the valley of the River Ryburn, this impressive body of water was completed in 1956 to supply water to Wakefield. It's the higher of two reservoirs here, following the construction of Ryburn Reservoir in 1933. The sheer scale of the project is breath taking. The curved dam head is a massive 470 meters long and over 50 meters high. It took eight years to build, at a cost of £1.4 million—an extraordinary sum for the time.

One of the most fascinating details about Baitings is its connection to the past. Before the reservoir was built, an old road that linked Yorkshire and Lancashire passed through the valley, crossing the Baitings Bridge. The name "Baitings" itself is rooted in Old Norse, a combination of "beit" (pasture) and "eng" (meadow), hinting at the area's history long before the water arrived. To make way for the reservoir, a concrete viaduct was built to replace the old bridge. However, the original structure isn't lost forever. During periods of extreme drought, when the water levels drop, the forgotten stones of Baitings Bridge are revealed once more, offering a glimpse into a history now submerged beneath the surface.

The reservoir itself is a remarkable sight, covering 24 hectares and holding over 3.19 million cubic meters of water when full. Looking out over the shimmering expanse, it's hard to imagine the complex network of infrastructure that supports it. A tunnel stretching 2,400 meters, known as the Manshead Tunnel, was opened in 1962 to connect Baitings with other reservoirs to the north, allowing for the transfer of water.

The photographs from that spring day capture the reservoir's multiple moods—from the powerful cascade of water over the spillway to the calm, reflective surface of the water framed by rolling green hills. They show a place that is more than just a water source; it's a piece of local history, a place of quiet contemplation, and a beautiful spot for a walk in the heart of the Pennines. It's a reminder of how human ingenuity and nature can coexist, creating something both functional and truly beautiful.

The pictures below were taken on the 17th May 2014, clicking any of them should open a link in another window to my Colin Green Photography store on Zazzle.

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Whispers of the Past: Discovering the Hidden Gem of Oxygrainz Clough

Amongst the heather-clad moors of Rishworth, on the edges of West Yorkshire, lies a hidden gem: Oxygrainz Clough and Bridge. This charming spot offers a peaceful escape for nature lovers and history buffs alike, combining stunning scenery with intriguing remnants of the past.

As you approach the clough, the ancient packhorse bridge, believed to date back to the 16th or 17th century, stands proudly, a silent witness to centuries of travellers and goods traversing the moors. Imagine weary traders leading laden horses across its weathered stones, carrying essential supplies between villages and markets. The historic bridge was replaced when the Oldham Turnpike was constructed a few metres to the north, allowing for larger goods traffic to cross between Lancashire and Yorkshire.

The clough itself unfolds like a verdant secret garden. A babbling brook meanders through moss-covered stones, whispering tales of a bygone era. Lush greenery carpets the banks, offering a vibrant contrast to the heather-dominated moors above. Sunbeams dance through the leaves, creating a magical, dappled light on the forest floor.

Your exploration doesn't have to end here. Rishworth Moor itself beckons with further adventures. Hike to the summit for panoramic views of the surrounding countryside, marvel at the ancient standing stones steeped in myth and legend, or visit the historic village of Rishworth with its charming pubs and traditional cottages.

The pictures below show the area around both bridges and the clough. They were taken in December 2020 with a Nikon d3300. Clicking any of the images should open a link in another window to my Colin Green Photography store on Zazzle.

The A672 Oldham Turnpike connects Oldham with Ripponden, the bridge replaced the much smaller Oxygrainz Bridge below which was once the packhorse route connecting the 2 towns.

Old and new, the original packhorse bridge, and the replacement turnpike bridge beyond.

Oxygrainz Clough flowing under the packhorse bridge and down Rishworth Moor, eventually reaching Booth Wood Reservoir.

The turnpike bridge viewed from the north side looking south. The M62 motorway is just beyond the hills peak.

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Baitings Reservoir at Low Water

On September 24th, 2022, a remarkable sight awaited visitors to Baitings Reservoir—a place where history, normally hidden beneath millions of gallons of water, was laid bare for all to see. These photographs, taken on that very day with a Nikon D3300, document an extraordinary moment when the reservoir's water levels dropped to a near-historic low, revealing long-submerged secrets of the valley.

A Monument to Engineering

Baitings Reservoir, completed in 1956, is an impressive feat of civil engineering. Built to supply fresh water to the city of Wakefield, it's the higher of two dams that harness the flow of the River Ryburn in this scenic part of Yorkshire. The lower dam, Ryburn Dam, was constructed earlier in 1933. The creation of Baitings was an immense undertaking, costing approximately £1.4 million and taking 8 years to complete.

The project transformed the landscape, intentionally flooding a small hamlet known as Baitings. Perhaps the most poignant part of this history is the submersion of a centuries-old packhorse bridge—a vital road link that once connected Lancashire and Yorkshire. This historic bridge, normally lost to view, becomes a stark and beautiful reminder of the past whenever the reservoir's water levels fall. The photographs show the old stone bridge, its arch still perfectly intact, exposed by the receding water. It stands as a testament to the village that was sacrificed for progress. The modern, concrete Back O'th Heights Bridge stands high above the exposed valley floor, a powerful visual cue of the reservoir's immense depth when it's at full capacity. At its highest, the dam holds over 113,000,000 cubic feet of water, or about 703,858,407 gallons.

The River Ryburn's Journey

Baitings Reservoir is a crucial part of the local water system. It's fed by runoff from the surrounding moorland and serves as the official start of the River Ryburn. The river flows six miles down the valley, passing the lower Ryburn Dam and eventually joining the River Calder at Sowerby Bridge. The photographs show the river's path through the exposed reservoir bed, a serpentine channel carved into the dried mud.

The exceptionally low water level in September 2022 revealed another fascinating piece of infrastructure: a sluice gate near the dam head. It's a structure that predates the reservoir itself, likely used to regulate the flow of water into the Ryburn Dam before Baitings was even built. This low water level also sparked a question: would an old footpath bridge, once located between the sluice gate and the dam, be revealed? While the water hadn't dropped quite enough on that day, it hinted at more hidden history waiting to be discovered.

The images offer a unique perspective, capturing not just the dam and bridges but also the powerful, arid landscape left behind. A photograph from the dam's spillway looks down into the channel below, showcasing the engineering that controls the water's release. Another shot provides a beautiful view of the lush, rolling green hills of the Ryburn Valley, a stunning contrast to the cracked, desolate reservoir bed. These pictures are a stark visual representation of the effects of low rainfall and a poignant reminder of the hidden history that lies beneath the surface of our landscapes.

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The packhorse bridge appearing from beneath the water has gone from a once in decade or so event to every couple of years.

Whilst it's likely that levels have been low enough before for the original dam and sluice gate to appear, this was the first time I had seen them.

The original packhorse bridge, often submerged seen through the legs of it's modern replacement.

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Unveiling History: A Dawn Walk at Baitings Dam

The sun began its slow ascent over the moorland, painting the sky in a blaze of gold and orange. The air, still cool from the night, held the promise of another warm day. But this wasn't just any sunrise; this was a moment of revelation at Baitings Dam, a reservoir that had, for a brief time, relinquished its hold on a forgotten piece of history.

Constructed to quench the thirst of Wakefield, Baitings Dam stands as a testament to human ingenuity. Completed in 1956 after eight years of arduous work and a cost of £1.4 million, it's the higher of two dams that harness the flow of the River Ryburn. Its lower sibling, Ryburn Dam, built in 1933, shares the task of supplying water to the city.

But with its completion came a bittersweet sacrifice: a small hamlet named Baitings was submerged beneath its rising waters. And with it, an ancient packhorse bridge, a vital link between the historic counties of Lancashire and Yorkshire, was lost to sight. Or so it seemed.

As I arrived on the morning of August 19th, 2022, the low water level—a result of the summer's heat—had performed a spectacular act of unveiling. The exposed, cracked earth of the reservoir bed stretched out before me, a stark contrast to the shimmering water that remained. And there, revealed in all its stoic glory, stood the old packhorse bridge.

For decades, this bridge has been a ghostly landmark, its existence a matter of local lore. While sensationalized reports claimed its first appearance in over 50 years, locals know better. This was not a unique event, but rather a more frequent occurrence in recent years, a consequence of the recurring summer heatwaves that are becoming the new norm in the UK. I’ve seen it at least three times in the last few years alone.

Standing by its side is a more modern successor: the concrete structure of Back O'th Heights Bridge. This bridge, with its sturdy pillars reaching down to the current waterline, offers a powerful visual lesson. The tell tale marks just beneath the road level show just how high the water can rise, a humbling reminder of the dam’s true capacity. When full, Baitings Dam holds an astounding 113 million cubic feet of water, or over 700 million gallons.

The River Ryburn, born from the run-off of the surrounding moorland, begins its journey here, flowing down the valley to eventually meet the River Calder at Sowerby Bridge, about six miles away. The dam is an integral part of this local landscape, and seeing it in this state of low ebb offered a unique perspective on its scale and the history it holds.

As the sun fully crested the horizon, its light caught the water's surface, creating a dazzling golden path that led directly to the rising sun. The pylon lines, a modern addition to the landscape, stretched across the sky, their silhouettes a stark line against the brilliant morning light. It was a beautiful, almost surreal scene.

For a photographer, Baitings Dam in this state is a dream. Every detail, from the cracked earth to the exposed foundations of the modern bridge and the newly visible old packhorse bridge, tells a story. And on this particular morning, using my Nikon d3300, I had the privilege of capturing a few chapters of that story as it unfolded under the golden light of a new day.

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The tide marks underneath Back O'th Heights Bridge show the dams level when full.

The former bridge is submerged for most of the year, it's appearances becoming
more frequent in recent years.

The former bridge can be seen beyond it's replacement, this gives an idea of how low
the water level has dropped due to the recent dry weather.

The waterless back of the dam beyond the former bridge, the water level normally
hiding the river that feeds it.

I took this further up the A58 towards Rochdale, looking across the fields in the direction
of the bridges and Baitings Dam.

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