Greenbooth Reservoir 50th anniversary

Greenbooth Village

2015 marks the 50th anniversary of Greenbooth Reservoir.

North of Heywood and close to Norden, the reservoir was officially opened in August 1965, after it was decided by the Heywood and Middleton Water Board that another reservoir was needed to supply water to the growing population.

The first proposals for the reservoir were voiced in 1952 and three years later plans for the reservoir were made official, after news that Greenbooth Village would be 'drowned' under the new proposals was confirmed.

Construction on Greenbooth Reservoir began in 1958 and took over two years to complete, with the village abandoned, demolished and submerged in the process.

At the time, Greenbooth Village included around 80 cottages, a sweet shop, a Co-Op store and a school and today, the only visible reminder of the village is a plaque on the side of the reservoir dam.

The reservoir is located at the southern end of the Naden Valley and is the lowest of four reservoirs built in the valley. It is built on a concrete foundation and has a central core of natural puddle clay.

The tunnel carrying the main outlet and overflow pipes was completed in 1961 and water from the reservoir is piped to filter houses at Clay Lane reservoir, where it is purified for domestic use.

Despite being completed in 1961 and costing £2,101,000, the reservoir wasn't officially opened until 1965.

The reservoir increased the supply of water in Heywood and Middleton by around 7,000,000,000 gallons.

• Photos of Greenbooth Village and its residents can be seen at:
  
  http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/sites/greenbooth-memories/gallery