Gartmorn Dam: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Gartmorn Dam - geograph.org.uk - 242283.jpg|thumb|The surface of Gartmorn Dam in 2006]] |
[[File:Gartmorn Dam - geograph.org.uk - 242283.jpg|thumb|The surface of Gartmorn Dam in 2006]] |
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'''Gartmorn Dam''' is an artificial lake north-west of [[Alloa]], Clackmannanshire, Scotland, UK, built in 1711-12 as a reservoir to supply water to hydraulic machines used in Alloa's mining industry. It was commissioned by John Erskine, 23rd and 6th Earl of Mar, to designs by George Sorocold, and is one of the earliest constructed reservoirs in Scotland. |
'''Gartmorn Dam''' is an artificial lake north-west of [[Alloa]], Clackmannanshire, Scotland, UK, built in 1711-12 as a reservoir to supply water to hydraulic machines used in Alloa's mining industry. It was commissioned by John Erskine, 23rd and 6th Earl of Mar, to designs by George Sorocold, and is one of the earliest constructed reservoirs in Scotland. |
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==History== |
==History== |
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Gartmorn Dam was commissioned by [[John Erskine, Earl of Mar (1675–1732)|John, Earl of Mar]], a Scottish noble and estate owner, who had received training in drawing and architectural design, and was said to be 'infected with the |
Gartmorn Dam was commissioned by [[John Erskine, Earl of Mar (1675–1732)|John, Earl of Mar]], a Scottish noble and estate owner, who had received training in drawing and architectural design, and was said to be 'infected with the disease of building'.<ref name="ODNB">{{Cite ODNB|doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/8868|title=Erskine, John, styled twenty-second or sixth earl of Mar and Jacobite duke of Mar|first=Christoph |last=v. Ehrenstein}}</ref> Its purpose was to provide a sufficient head and volume of water to drive mining pumps supporting the extractive industry of Alloa.<ref name="NewStat1845">{{cite book|title= The New Statistical Account of Scotland |
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|chapter=Alloa|page=8|date=1845|url=https://archive.org/details/newstatisticalac08edin/page/8/mode/2up?q=gartmorn+dam}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> |
|chapter=Alloa|page=8|date=1845|url=https://archive.org/details/newstatisticalac08edin/page/8/mode/2up?q=gartmorn+dam}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> |
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The dam, lake and associated waterworks were designed by and built, from 1711 |
The dam, lake and associated waterworks were designed by and built, from 1711 to 1712, by English civil engineer [[George Sorocold]]<ref name="AH13">{{cite journal|last=Stewart|first=Margaret|year=2013|title=John Erskine, 6th and 11th Earl of Mar (1675–1732): Architecture, Landscape and Industry|journal=Architectural Heritage|publisher=Edinburgh University Press|volume=23|issue=1|pages=101–106|doi=10.3366/arch.2012.0035|url=http://www.euppublishing.com/doi/pdfplus/10.3366/arch.2012.0035|url-access=subscription}}</ref> Sorocold caused the construction of a [[weir]] on the [[Black Devon]] waterway at [[Forestmill]], raising its waters by {{convert|16|foot}}, and a [[mill lade|lade]] to carry water about four miles westward to Gartmorn, where it was impounded by an earth dike. The lake formed has a surface of about {{convert|160|acre}}, reaches a maximum depth of {{convert|37|feet}} deep,{{r|g=nb|r=A number of nineteenth-century descriptions of the lake use a measure "being sufficient to carry a seventy-four gun ship" to emphasise the depth of the lake.<ref name="NewStat1845"/>}} and it situated about {{convert|160|foot}} above the level of the [[River Forth]], and {{convert|92|foot}} above Alloa. It is considered the earliest constructed reservoir in Scotland, and was for many years the largest artificial lake in Scotland.<ref name="NewStat1845"/> |
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The reservoir's dam, some {{convert|320|yard}} in length, was reconstructed in hewn stone in 1785 at a cost of several thousand pounds; and extensive repairs were made in 1827, to avert concerns that the structure might fail and inundate the lower parts of the town.<ref name="NewStat1845"/> |
The reservoir's dam, some {{convert|320|yard}} in length, was reconstructed in hewn stone in 1785 at a cost of several thousand pounds; and extensive repairs were made in 1827, to avert concerns that the structure might fail and inundate the lower parts of the town.<ref name="NewStat1845"/> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |
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[[Category:Landforms of Clackmannanshire]] |
[[Category:Landforms of Clackmannanshire]] |
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[[Category:Reservoirs in Scotland]] |
[[Category:Reservoirs in Scotland]] |
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[[Category:1712 establishments in Scotland]] |
[[Category:1712 establishments in Scotland]] |
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Revision as of 22:39, 12 March 2022
Gartmorn Dam is an artificial lake north-west of Alloa, Clackmannanshire, Scotland, UK, built in 1711-12 as a reservoir to supply water to hydraulic machines used in Alloa's mining industry. It was commissioned by John Erskine, 23rd and 6th Earl of Mar, to designs by George Sorocold, and is one of the earliest constructed reservoirs in Scotland.
History
Gartmorn Dam was commissioned by John, Earl of Mar, a Scottish noble and estate owner, who had received training in drawing and architectural design, and was said to be 'infected with the disease of building'.[1] Its purpose was to provide a sufficient head and volume of water to drive mining pumps supporting the extractive industry of Alloa.[2]
The dam, lake and associated waterworks were designed by and built, from 1711 to 1712, by English civil engineer George Sorocold[3] Sorocold caused the construction of a weir on the Black Devon waterway at Forestmill, raising its waters by 16 foot (4.9 m), and a lade to carry water about four miles westward to Gartmorn, where it was impounded by an earth dike. The lake formed has a surface of about 160 acres (65 ha), reaches a maximum depth of 37 feet (11 m) deep,[nb 1] and it situated about 160 foot (49 m) above the level of the River Forth, and 92 foot (28 m) above Alloa. It is considered the earliest constructed reservoir in Scotland, and was for many years the largest artificial lake in Scotland.[2]
The reservoir's dam, some 320 yards (290 m) in length, was reconstructed in hewn stone in 1785 at a cost of several thousand pounds; and extensive repairs were made in 1827, to avert concerns that the structure might fail and inundate the lower parts of the town.[2]
In contemporary times, Gartmorn Dam is used for leisure activities. The weir and lade remain in good condition. In 2013, Scottish Water spent £440,000 to maintain the dam headwall and improve emergency water level reduction systems.[4]
Notes
References
- ^ v. Ehrenstein, Christoph. "Erskine, John, styled twenty-second or sixth earl of Mar and Jacobite duke of Mar". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/8868. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- ^ a b c d "Alloa". The New Statistical Account of Scotland. 1845. p. 8.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ Stewart, Margaret (2013). "John Erskine, 6th and 11th Earl of Mar (1675–1732): Architecture, Landscape and Industry". Architectural Heritage. 23 (1). Edinburgh University Press: 101–106. doi:10.3366/arch.2012.0035.
- ^ Forsyth, Valerie (14 February 2018). "A Walk in the Past: When the dam runs dry". Alloa Advertiser. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
