Yorkshire Water hired master thatcher William Tegetmeier to restore the roof of the barn, next to Grimwith Reservoir, to how it would have looked more than 150 years ago.

Mr Tegetmeier, one of only 900 qualified thatchers in the UK, used locally sourced heather during the painstaking two-week operation.

It was the first time the roof had been re-thatched since the late 1970s, when the barn was moved, stone by stone, 100 yards so that the reservoir could expand.

Yorkshire Water's catchment and recreation manager Geoff Lomas said: "Over the years the barn has become a much loved reminder of the park's rich heritage and taking the decision to restore the roof of this unique holding and preserve the building for the future enjoyment of generations of visitors was one of the easiest decisions we've ever had to make."

Grimwith Reservoir, situated in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, between Grassington and Pateley Bridge, was built by the Bradford Corporation in 1864.