2A00:23C7:C8BC:C501:507C:445E:62F7:256D: /* History */

2025-06-15T18:01:25Z

History

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{{Short description|Reservoir in North Yorkshire, England}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2019}}
{{Infobox body of water
| name = Gouthwaite Reservoir
| image = Gouthwaite Reservoir.jpg
| caption = Gouthwaite Reservoir
| alt = Image of a lake with steep hills beyond
| image_bathymetry =
| pushpin_map = North Yorkshire
| pushpin_map_alt = Relief map of North Yorkshire
| caption_bathymetry =
| location = [[England]]
| coords = {{coord|54|6|51|N|1|47|47|W|type:waterbody_region:GB|display=inline,title}}
| type = [[reservoir]]
| inflow = [[River Nidd]]
| outflow = [[River Nidd]]
| catchment =
| basin_countries = [[United Kingdom]]
| length =
| width =
| area = {{convert|312|acre}}<ref name="BL">{{cite web |title=Gouthwaite Reservoir, North Yorkshire – British Lakes |url=http://www.britishlakes.info/29770-gouthwaite-reservoir-north-yorkshire |website=britishlakes.info |accessdate=27 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181127193749/http://www.britishlakes.info/29770-gouthwaite-reservoir-north-yorkshire |archivedate=27 November 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| depth =
| max-depth =
| residence_time =
| shore = {{convert|4.9|mi}}<ref name="BL" />
| elevation = {{convert|433|ft}}<ref name="BL" />
| islands =
| cities =
}}

'''Gouthwaite Reservoir''' is in [[Nidderdale]], [[North Yorkshire]], England. It is one of many [[reservoir]]s in the area, others include [[Roundhill Reservoir]] and [[Angram Reservoir]].

Gouthwaite is a compensation reservoir for the [[River Nidd]], i.e. it maintains the downstream flow of the river during periods of high and low rainfall.<ref>{{cite news |title=Yorkshire Water to start £7m scheme to improve safety at Gouthwaite reservoir |url=https://www.waterbriefing.org/home/company-news/item/13913-yorkshire-water-to-start-£7m-scheme-to-improve-safety-at-gouthwaite-reservoir |accessdate=27 November 2018 |work=Water Briefing |date=12 May 2017}}</ref><ref name="Cudworth 1896 p. 232">{{cite book |last=Cudworth |first=W. |title=Manningham, Heaton, and Allerton (townships of Bradford) treated historically and topographically |publisher=Cudworth|year=1896 |oclc=1454896009 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lVALAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA232 |access-date=13 May 2025 |page=232}}</ref>

== History ==
[[File:Gouthwaite Hall-geograph-5534881.jpg|thumb|upright=1.25|The relocated Gouthwaite Hall]]
The reservoir was constructed between 1893 and 1901.<ref>{{cite book |last=Jennings |first=Bernard |authorlink=Bernard Jennings |title=A History of Nidderdale |page=346 |year=1992 |isbn=1-85072-114-9}}</ref> The Elizabethan manor house of Gouthwaite White Hall, the ancient home of the Yorke family, was submerged beneath its waters. Gouthwaite Hall was rebuilt beside the reservoir with materials from the old hall, and is now a Grade II [[listed building]].<ref>{{NHLE |num=1150482 |desc=Gouthwaite White Hall |accessdate=25 December 2012}}</ref> The Hall is known in theatre history for performances by travelling players hosted by [[John Yorke (c.1566–1634)|John Yorke]] at Christmas 1609 and [[Candlemas]] 1610, which were denounced by a neighbour [[Stephen Proctor]].<ref>Siobhan Keenan, "The Simpson players of Jacobean Yorkshire and the professional stage", ''Theatre Notebook'', 67:1 (2013), pp. 16–35.</ref>

On 1 June 1978, a [[Royal Air Force]] [[Jet Provost]] aircraft crashed into the reservoir killing the pilot. His body and most of the aircraft were recovered in the following days.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ranter |first1=Harro |title=Accident Hunting Jet Provost T3A XN598, 01 Jun 1978 |url=https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/56639 |website=aviation-safety.net |accessdate=16 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Provost Training Aircraft (Hansard, 5 July 1978) |url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1978/jul/05/provost-training-aircraft |website=api.parliament.uk |accessdate=16 July 2019}}</ref>

== Birdwatching ==
Gouthwaite Reservoir is a nature reserve and a [[Site of Special Scientific Interest]] (SSSI).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1002575.pdf |title=SSSI citation |accessdate=25 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023223506/http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1002575.pdf |archivedate=23 October 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> The reservoir is independently owned by the Gouthwaite Management Board, but they are advised by [[Yorkshire Water]] and the Environment Agency,<ref>{{cite news |title=Multi-million pound plan to improve safety at Gouthwaite reservoir |url=https://www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/news/environment/multi-million-pound-plan-to-improve-safety-at-gouthwaite-reservoir-1-8534412 |accessdate=27 November 2018 |work=Harrogate Advertiser |date=9 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181127193650/https://www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/news/environment/multi-million-pound-plan-to-improve-safety-at-gouthwaite-reservoir-1-8534412 |archivedate=27 November 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> who have created viewing areas for bird watchers on the edge of the reservoir. Tree and shrub cover along the shoreline provides a habitat for small birds such as [[willow warbler]] and [[blackcap]]. Other records include woodland specialists like [[great spotted woodpecker]] and [[nuthatch]]. The [[European green woodpecker|green woodpecker]] has also been recorded.

In winter, after the summer migrants have gone, the reservoir margins are good for [[fieldfare]]s and [[redwing]]s. On the reservoir itself, [[Canada geese]] are always present and are joined during the autumn and winter by [[goosander]]s and [[Goldeneye (duck)|goldeneye]] accompanied by [[mallard]], [[tufted duck]] and [[Common pochard|pochard]]. [[Whooper swan]]s from Iceland frequently join them.

Winter is also a good time for birds of prey with [[buzzard]]s, [[red kite]]s, [[hen harrier]]s, [[Merlin (bird)|merlin]]s and [[kestrel]]s being observed around the reservoir and the surrounding moorland. [[Osprey]]s and [[golden eagle]]s are frequently observed on passage.

== References ==
{{Portal|Yorkshire}}
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category-inline|Gouthwaite Reservoir}}

{{Reservoirs in Yorkshire}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Reservoirs in North Yorkshire]]
[[Category:Nidderdale]]
[[Category:Sites of Special Scientific Interest in North Yorkshire]]

Gouthwaite Reservoir - Revision history

2A00:23C7:C8BC:C501:507C:445E:62F7:256D: /* History */