1. The History
The Redmires Reservoirs are a group of three reservoirs in Fulwood, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. They are fed from various small streams rising from the Hallam Moors by including Fairthorn Clough. The three reservoirs are named Upper, Middle and Lower and date back to 1836 They were created to provide clean drinking water via a water course down to Barker's Pool 5½ miles away following Sheffield’s devastating cholera epidemic in 1832.
There are two former Water Treatment Works/Filter Stations. The first can be found on Long Causeway. It is located beside the Lower reservoir and dates back to 1950. It supplied water to the south-western outer environs of Sheffield via the Ringlow and Rudd Hill service reservoirs. The systems utilized seven horizontal pressure filters (installed at its inception in 1950) and a clear water tank which was installed 1983. Preliminary treatment of the water was carried out in the lower reservoir before it was filtered. Lime was added to separate the natural aluminium from the water, making it clump together so it could be filtered out.
Despite the works producing water below modern standards it was of a satisfactory colour and cleanliness, and despite high iron and aluminium levels, was still safe to drink.
However, a new plant was constructed opposite the old works in the mid-80s and used the “Sirofloc” Process. The water from this new plant was then piped to the old works to be filtered as a final process. The older waterworks was decommissioned when it closed around 1997 and was stripped of its machinery and apparatus in 2013. The works was on the market with Reeds Rains at a guide price of £277,000 a couple of years ago and sold. Since then, though, no conversion has taken place and it sits empty and forlorn. The second newer build and was in commission until after 2011 but has now been decommissioned. Recently it has been cleaned out by the metal faeries and doesn’t appear to have much in the way of a future.
2. The Explore
The older plant I’ve covered previously and is now a complete walk-in. However, the fact that the newer plant was decommissioned and wide open was a massive surprise when we heard so off we popped. And sure enough, it too was a walk in. It looks like it had been open a while as the place has been ravaged. Despite that, though, there was still enough in here to keep us busy for a good hour or so.
3 The Pictures
The old filtration station first. Built in 1949:
Quick peek on the roof:
And then inside:
Stickerz:
On the walk up to the second plant:
And here we are. Looks pretty un-interesting from the outside:
What are these doing here?
OK, we’ve been warned:
The Redmires Reservoirs are a group of three reservoirs in Fulwood, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. They are fed from various small streams rising from the Hallam Moors by including Fairthorn Clough. The three reservoirs are named Upper, Middle and Lower and date back to 1836 They were created to provide clean drinking water via a water course down to Barker's Pool 5½ miles away following Sheffield’s devastating cholera epidemic in 1832.
There are two former Water Treatment Works/Filter Stations. The first can be found on Long Causeway. It is located beside the Lower reservoir and dates back to 1950. It supplied water to the south-western outer environs of Sheffield via the Ringlow and Rudd Hill service reservoirs. The systems utilized seven horizontal pressure filters (installed at its inception in 1950) and a clear water tank which was installed 1983. Preliminary treatment of the water was carried out in the lower reservoir before it was filtered. Lime was added to separate the natural aluminium from the water, making it clump together so it could be filtered out.
Despite the works producing water below modern standards it was of a satisfactory colour and cleanliness, and despite high iron and aluminium levels, was still safe to drink.
However, a new plant was constructed opposite the old works in the mid-80s and used the “Sirofloc” Process. The water from this new plant was then piped to the old works to be filtered as a final process. The older waterworks was decommissioned when it closed around 1997 and was stripped of its machinery and apparatus in 2013. The works was on the market with Reeds Rains at a guide price of £277,000 a couple of years ago and sold. Since then, though, no conversion has taken place and it sits empty and forlorn. The second newer build and was in commission until after 2011 but has now been decommissioned. Recently it has been cleaned out by the metal faeries and doesn’t appear to have much in the way of a future.
2. The Explore
The older plant I’ve covered previously and is now a complete walk-in. However, the fact that the newer plant was decommissioned and wide open was a massive surprise when we heard so off we popped. And sure enough, it too was a walk in. It looks like it had been open a while as the place has been ravaged. Despite that, though, there was still enough in here to keep us busy for a good hour or so.
3 The Pictures
The old filtration station first. Built in 1949:
Quick peek on the roof:
And then inside:
Stickerz:
On the walk up to the second plant:
And here we are. Looks pretty un-interesting from the outside:
What are these doing here?
OK, we’ve been warned:
lovely photos
