Burrator Reservoir, on the south side of Dartmoor, is one of a number of reservoirs and dams built to supply drinking water to the city of Plymouth and the surrounding lowlands.
It was completed in 1898 and expanded in 1929.
The reservoir was built under the supervision of Edward Sandeman (1862-1959), the Water Engineer for Plymouth. The reservoir has 2 dams, the Burrator Dam, which is built across the River Meavy at Burrator Gorge at the south-western end, and the Sheepstor Dam built on a dividing ridge between the Meavy and Sheepstor Brook at the south-eastern end.
The Burrator Dam was the first of the two to be built, with construction starting on 9 August 1893. It is the more massive of the two dams, constructed of concrete faced with granite blocks.
The Sheepstor Dam was built in 1894 and is an earth embankment with a core wall of puddled clay above the original ground level, with a concrete section below ground. The reservoir was officially opened on 21 September 1898.
So much more than just a dam – the jewel of Dartmoor!
The present-day area of the reservoir at overflow level is about 150 acres and is surrounded by plantations, dramatic tors, open moorland, historic settlements and a Nature Reserve! – all on the edge of Dartmoor National Park!
Burrator Reservoir offers a unique day out for families, nature enthusiasts, historians and Dartmoor lovers alike.
There are ample walks, wildlife and history – explore ruins of abandoned farms, evidence of tin working, the remains of the Princetown Railway and a Site of Special Scientific Importance. Spot cists, cairns and prehistoric settlements. Keep an eye out for Dartmoor’s iconic ponies and a range of wildlife that call Burrator home. The reservoir is bursting with wildlife and colour – discover a huge range of birds including Nuthatch, Robin, Great Tit and Blue Tit. Bluebells, daffodils, primrose, ferns and welsh poppies are among some of the superb range of flora to be spotted.
Burrator Reservoir, on the south side of Dartmoor, is one of a number of reservoirs and dams built to supply drinking water to the city of Plymouth and the surrounding lowlands.
It was completed in 1898 and expanded in 1929.
The reservoir was built under the supervision of Edward Sandeman (1862-1959), the Water Engineer for Plymouth. The reservoir has 2 dams, the Burrator Dam, which is built across the River Meavy at Burrator Gorge at the south-western end, and the Sheepstor Dam built on a dividing ridge between the Meavy and Sheepstor Brook at the south-eastern end.
The Burrator Dam was the first of the two to be built, with construction starting on 9 August 1893. It is the more massive of the two dams, constructed of concrete faced with granite blocks.
The Sheepstor Dam was built in 1894 and is an earth embankment with a core wall of puddled clay above the original ground level, with a concrete section below ground. The reservoir was officially opened on 21 September 1898.
So much more than just a dam – the jewel of Dartmoor!
The present-day area of the reservoir at overflow level is about 150 acres and is surrounded by plantations, dramatic tors, open moorland, historic settlements and a Nature Reserve! – all on the edge of Dartmoor National Park!
Burrator Reservoir offers a unique day out for families, nature enthusiasts, historians and Dartmoor lovers alike.
There are ample walks, wildlife and history – explore ruins of abandoned farms, evidence of tin working, the remains of the Princetown Railway and a Site of Special Scientific Importance. Spot cists, cairns and prehistoric settlements. Keep an eye out for Dartmoor’s iconic ponies and a range of wildlife that call Burrator home. The reservoir is bursting with wildlife and colour – discover a huge range of birds including Nuthatch, Robin, Great Tit and Blue Tit. Bluebells, daffodils, primrose, ferns and welsh poppies are among some of the superb range of flora to be spotted.
