Remarkable skill of Victorian reservoir builders – Yorkshire Post Letters

I WAS interested to read your recent report about the work to be undertaken to strengthen the slipway at Swinsty Reservoir – which was constructed in the 1870s. Unfortunately there are no known surviving records of the names of the men who were employed to work on the construction of Swinsty (and Fewston) Reservoirs.

However, I suspect that one of my great, great grandfathers, John Archer, may have worked on the initial preparatory works at Swinsty. He was a ‘nomadic’ labourer, who had been born in Pevensey (near Eastbourne) in 1848.

In 1873 John married a local woman MaryAnn Dickinson, who lived in nearby Timble. 
His occupation recorded on 
their marriage certificate is excavator.

During my childhood and early adult years I lived at Bland Hill, Norwood, which overlooks Swinsty Reservoir. Whenever I return to the Washburn Valley to walk around the reservoirs, I am always impressed by the skill of those workers involved with their construction.

In particular, manoeuvring the huge limestone blocks mentioned in your report, as the workforce would not have had the use of the heavy lifting equipment that is available 
now.

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