A great video, and rather poignant for me. After returning from the horrors of the "Great " War, and suffering from the effects of mustard gas, my grandfather took on a chicken farm at Ashopton. To think that he would have walked those roads and worshipped in the church, sends a shiver down my back.
One of your best so far ! I was lucky enough a few years ago to fly at low level between those two towers on the Dam in a Faulke Motor Glider ( VW beetle engine ) from Camp Hill. You never realise what was once under that expanse of water. Great work !
When I was younger me and my late grandparents used go to the Dronfield Contact Club every Sunday. They got to know a few locals we used to sit with a lady who in her younger years used to walk in the Peak District and Derwent Valley was one of her favourite spots. Nora was born in 1912 she would get on the bus and get off at Ashopton Inn I think she used to go in the pub sometimes. She did mention Derwent Hall at that time it was used by the Youth Hostel Association you could visit it, later the Hall was used by a girl's school after they got bombed out. They stayed for a few years before returning back to Sheffield. I got the impression Nora never really approved of the flooding of the valley she visited once after the dam was completed she never went back.
The mysterious road at about18 minutes in could be the old drovers road, where they brought sheep from further afield on the way to market. There is (or was) an old drovers bridge right up the valley where the path gets steeper. The church tower was originally left standing, but was blown up after people started to swim out toit for a dare. Back in the 1960s there was another drought, and the photographs that I had from that time showed the valley with a lot less water than today. The ghostly shape at 20 minutes looks like an old garden. There is obviously nearest the camera a cross with a ring. The map quite clearly shows some gardens there, and it matches with my original 1920s/1930s map of the area, which states that this is either the site of Derwent Hall or Hollinclough Farm, not sure which because of the scale.Why it is marked Waterhouses I'm not sure, but it could be because after the building of Howden Dam, Sheffield Corporation did buy some houses in the area for water board staff to live in. The steps and wall could be part of a tiered garden scheme, rather than a loading bay. Also in that area was Dabbey Grange, and Howden House. There are various small streams, Abbey Brook, separating Dabbey Grange and Howden House and Cranberry Clough, opposite Slippery Stones, although I think these were covered by the Howden Dam. The whole area was a training ground for the Lancaster Bombers that made up the Dam Busters in the 2nd World War. If you want a scan of the map, please let me know.
I’d agree with you about the gardens, and what clearly appears to be the remains of a great house or hall. Ditto with the idea of a tiered garden area. The area is pretty silted up too. Pretty amazing to see thing that are normally underwater under the sunshine.
That path looks like it follows the boundary between farm area and woodland. Heads dead straight then turns left as it approaches the old river. I'm just looking at old maps though.
Drovers roads generally followed contours of the land. I'd say it was very unlikely that this was such a road considering the way it cuts across the valley.
Hi Ant. It must be said, this is one of your best videos to date. Full of history, mystery and intrigue, A well taken opportunity to investigate a site not often seen by folk. Beautifully presented in your usual uncomplicated way. Thank you my friend, thoroughly enjoyable. Bob
Lovely video, the melancholic music evoking a sadness of times past. Thanks for exploring and showing us along with the old photos what it was like. Thant amazing submerged bridge! shame...
Very interesting video. I was also there in 1976 with my Dad and two younger brothers. It was very low then and you could see a lot of the Ashopton foundations. The famous Derwent church spire had gone by them although my Dad told us about it as he had seen it many times before I was born.
A real quality watch, thank you Ant for putting that film together. I saved it especially for this evening when I had more time on my hands to enjoy it, it didn’t disappoint.
Wow Ant that was amazing to see, i loved the drone footage as you could clearly make out formal gardens possibly allotments or animal enclosures. Hope you enjoyed your walk of the Midland and great Northern railway in Norfolk there are many more hidden gems along the route some of which I recovered including chairs an original 1880s sleeper with rail fixing and gradient post arms. Whitwell and Reepham station is worth a visit and the ramains of the old wayside station at Honing. Keep up the great videos and look forward to the next one.
As a local lass this is one of the best documentaries I've watched on rhe Derwent. Thankyou, this was such an enjoyable watch from start to finish. Never had chance to experience it so dryed out.
Oh wow thank you very much for such a kind comment. I was back yesterday doing a second part and shall return Friday hopefully for a third as long as the weather is good. Thank you ❤️
The detail you go into is amazing, even down to the last Hymn. Amazing piece of work, Ant. Congratulations. It's absolutely stunning. I really do appreciate the upload.
What a fantastic upload. Fascinating indeed. My grandfather help build the reservoir early 1930s or thereabouts. As kids we played under the bridge at the ladybower pub. New subscriber Richard. Thank you for this upload.
I love your choice of music, particularly the use of the piano but also the historical research and the sensitivity in which you handle your material - magic.
I live not far from there and I walked into that building at 33:43 back in the early 90s.... back when we got really long and hot summers (and long and cold winters.)
Ant, another epic walking tour/explore enjoyed from the comfort of my laptop. I hope you realise what love there is out here for your sheer hard work, enthusiasm and inspiration that comes over. Oh, and a great playlist selection as usual - all Shazam'd for further listening . Thanks so much and keep 'em coming 👏👏👏
Another excellent video, I went there back in 2018 when the levels were even lower and the old pump house was high and dry. It's also sad to think the remains of Ashopton village will never be seen again
Good video; I hope you return before the winter comes as the level will continue to drop. I became fascinated in the lost villages during the drought of 1976. I've seen and walked amongst the ruins of Derwent in 1989, 1996 and 2018. Re what look like ornamental gardens, you can picture where glass houses probably stood.
Incredible film. Very moving. The ending had me in tears. Very powerful documentary. So interesting to see before and after. Found. It scary to see the drought. Hope we can get enough rain soon to fill it all up. Wow wow wow Ant. You deserve an award for this film. Thank you.
Like looking back in time! It's amazing what is revealed when the water is so low. Certainly ghosts of the past. At around 20:26 when your showing the aerial view, it looks like the remains of some grand garden - the type of thing a hall or manor house might of had. Certainly very formerly laid out. Would love to find some old photos of the garden at it's prime. I can almost imagine the gardeners doing their work, pruning the roses and trimming hedges. Lovely to get a glimpse of the past like this. EDIT - Did you know that the famous 617 squadron - the dam busters, used derwent dam for practice sorties prior to their flights over to Germany during WW2. Must have been quite a sight seeing Lancaster bombers flying in low across the dam, and then out over the valley that once contained the village of Derwent. Just so much history!
Brilliant video Ant, I once did a delivery to kilder scout camp but as I was trying to find it I was following a small lane which suddenly ended and disappeared down into the water, it was quite eerie, a road that once went down to the village I guess, hence I had to back up this lane to get out as I was in a truck
Such a sad vid when you see those B&W photos. Looks like they actually demolished the buildings before flooding it?? Loving the drone work showing what looked like a formal garden layout. Another one of your enthusiastic vids, thanks Ant👍👍👍👍
@@davidknowles3459 Why did they demolish them? It seems unnecessary it would have been an interesting experiment to see how long they lasted submerged in water.
Great video! I was lucky enough to be there when the water level was even lower in 2018 and was intrigued by the fireplaces and gate posts of what I’d assumed was Derwent Hall. It’s great to put what I saw in context from all your research!
I've been fascinated by the sad demise of Ashopton and Derwent villages for a long time. Your detailed video is excellent and certainly does the history of these villages justice. Its one of the most comprehensive videos I've seen on the subject. I'm so glad you was able to do this, when the water level was so low.
I walked around Ladybower last week and also noticed the area around Water Houses 20:26. The stones used to mark out these squares are single stones laid on edge, it's not like they are the remnants of foundation stones, the area looks more likely the remains of a kitchen garden. They are also extremely clean, like they were laid yesterday, no build up of sediment or moss. What I also find fascinating is how the weeds are growing prolifically in the square's yet hardly at all on the paths, in other words after all these years under water the soil within the square is still so much more fertile than on the path.
Another great video Ant. What I find amazing with this reservoir particularly is how quickly it both fills and drops in levels. Back in March this year a lot of Snake Pass was under water and the reservoir virtually full and yet only a couple of months before that it was really low again.
@@TrekkingExploration It was very low in 1976, but I seem to remember more remains of buildings being visible back then. My dad took us round in whatever clapped-out jalopy we had back then, as it was the dryest & hottest summer on record at that point We've surpassed that several times since I believe, though that's nothing to brag about. Was followed by a cold winter with more snow than I had ever seen, & my dad said it reminded him of winter in 1947 in Edinburgh (apparently it was a bad one with snow drifts yards high).
Brilliant informative video Ant, it's stunning there isn't it? I've never seen the water that low before. Still find it amazing there was once a beautiful village & church plus the stunning Derwent Hall there before it 'drowned'. Thanks again Ant. ❤😊
I thoroughly enjoyed this video. Haven't seen any other stuff of yours. Loved the background music. You have an instant covert and new subscriber. Thank you for making my day.
What a magnificent video. Thank you so much for sharing this with us - gave me real tingles! The aerial shots of the gardens near Water Houses were sublime. I've never seen that before. Hope you go again in October/November and film Derwent Hall and the school. Once again, massive thank you for a brilliant video.
What a awesome video and a good history lesson for me. Never been there . I'm always interested in old nottingham and it's history. Thank you very much for this.
Excellent video. I've been waiting for this one. I was there a few weeks ago, but I didn't have time to go where you were and explore, so your film shows what I have missed. I've been interested in these villages since I had a photo book a few decades ago. It showed the ruins of the Hall in '76. Amazing that the water was even lower then, given that the top of Ladybower where you walked is just a small stream at this time. A great document of this 2022 drought. Your drone footage was amazing, especially showing the old garden and it coming back to life too, incredible.
Maevellous video! From the ghostly old photo's and magnicent aerial shots to the informative maps and fascinating exploration of the normally submerged relics, this was a joy to watch and learn something of what was lost a century or so ago. Looking forward to your video on the dam - what a superb structure. Well done!
Excellent vlog and great footage & detailed. You put a lot of effort in to all yr vlogs Ant. All yr vlogs are Fan Tas Tic 5*. The drone footage is excellent to. Love all the history and effort put into this. We will never know how many hrs & editing it takes to produce just great vlogs.... Keep up the great work
A real great video, Ant. It's really fascinating to see the remains of a lot of the old building foundations and walls now that the water in the reservoir is so low. The maps and the old photos that you show, really compliment the history of the drowned hamlet that was there before being flooded over. The stone bridges are in totally excellent condition considering that they are normally covered over. A very enjoyable production, packed full of interest, and so, many thanks.
Been here on many occasions live over the border in Notts and when I was a young girl in the 70s you could see a few more structures than today always wished they would have made it more of tourist attraction with a museum sharing all the photos and stories of the wonderful village greatvideo
I went in 1976 when the water was even lower. What sticks in my mind was a small stone bridge over the remaining small stream in the bottom of the valley. Mind boggling at the time to think it was normally under many feet of water. There was also a large building, still mainly standing, which I thought was the church at the time minus the tower, but maybe not if it was demolished. Several other ruins and foundations could be seen. Nice to see the photos to get context. Interesting video, good job.
I've noticed there seems to be a lot less standing than there was in 1976, I guess some of that will be due to the increase in the level of silt which is usually on the bottom of the lake/reservoir.
@@AnthonyIlstonJones yes maybe so. Very interesting video anyway. Have you seen that guy that has done the same thing but up in Yorkshire I think. Can't remember his name, maybe Martin, but I was surprised to see the water was even lower than his last trip, when he went recently. There is quite a substantial bridge still standing at that one. Have you seen any of the drought footage out of china? Some of the before and after footage is jaw dropping. The interesting thing is they keep finding man made stuff there as well.
@@crabby7668 Yes, I watch Martin Zero regularly. Baitings reservoir is only about 10 miles from where I live, though I haven't seen it recently. Not seen the footage from China, but to be fair any time a reservoir is created people are going to be displaced. China just does things on a whole different scale.
@@AnthonyIlstonJones that's the man! Yes it was interesting that it kept depleting even after the "drought" broke so he got to see the bottom of the sunken bridge, which he couldn't in his first trip. If you are that close I would think it worth a personal visit even if you don't do a public video. The China stuff is interesting because it shows huge rivers like the yangtse etc practically empty and looking a bit like the LA storm drains in terminator. Also some huge lakes where temples on islands are now practically just on knolls in a prairie.
I was thinking of our visit I '76 , my sister (10) got stuck in the mud on that little bridge, being the good big sister (12) I went to help. Eventually we got out covered in mud wellies in hand and rather cross parents.
Great video, really love Derwent. Unsure what the tarmac road is early in the vid but looking on the old maps there is a couple of fords crossing the river (shows how shallow it was), the wall I assume was an old farm wall, there's a few visible along the edges of the reservoir. You can usually drive all the way up to Howden Reservoir, but only on week days, however its closed currently due to tree felling. The ruin now visible with yellow stone in it is Derwent Hall, there's a few old photos of this online, in Oct 2018 I was able to walk in the ruins. I'm hoping next week when I return I can see the lover's seat that was close by and next to the river 🤞 The gardens were the kitchen gardens, next to the waterhouses. Amazing how they look on the drone footage, the paths clearly visible still after all this time. There was another ford that's visible where the Derwent bends just past the pipeline, and a ruin inc a hole to presumably a cellar, it's close to Fairholmes which was a former farm, but the building now visible isn't on old maps. Something else that remains a mystery is some foundations of something up on Howden Reservoir. I recently found a document online containing old farms in the area but this ruin wasn't mentioned so I can only assume it was either a house or a barn. Would be great, or worrying perhaps, to see Ashopton Village, but I've seen that it's highly unlikely due to the amount of silt built up in Ladybower reservoir, plus you've only got to work out how far underwater it is given the size of the viaduct and how it currently looks. I reckon that's gone forever. One house remains of Ashopton at least, Ginett House on the banks of the reservoir, as Miss Cotterill refused to move out.
Ant this is absolutely beautifully filmed and very interesting. I have never visited the area but from your videos feel I must come and see the reservoir's next year (obviously hopefully full of course!) but the surrounding countryside looks wonderful. Thanks for posting them.
Fantastic video. I loved the beautiful closing hymn, said to have been sung at the final service of the old Methodist chapel... Very moving... and that's from me, an old, life-long Atheist.
To fully understand the landscape you need to study the 1900, the 1920's and the 1940's OS maps, The building you call pump houses are manual valve houses to control flow. Notice no power input. The submerged one is for the pre Ladybower pipe line from Derwent reservoir which was duplicated to its current position near the old railway line track bed, so it was not underwater as Ladybower filled. The pipeline goes through the road bridge structure. A57. I had a great uncle who had to move from his farm near the Ashopton railway viaduct as the dam was started. His whole farm equipment and animals where moved by train to Ashbourne - Derby road. He lost half his farm to the RAF when they built Ashbourne airfield in the early 40.s.
Well Ant you’ve done it again. Excellent video and like all your videos like this we all can just imagine living in that era through your videos. Great works and keep it up 👍
This is amazing!! Thank you so much for the time and effort gone into this. If only it could tell the lives of the people who were once there. Just fabulous 👏👏👏
The area you thought were wash houses were in fact the kitchen gardens of Derwent Hall, a typical layout of the time. Fascinating video thanks for showing us round.
Love your enthusiasm Ant, wouldn't it of been funny if some of us on here had been tipped off and placed some railway architecture almost completely hidden in the mud, be so funny if you started finding fish plates and bits of sleepers and a convincing 'British Railways Ashopton' sign 4/5 submerged in the mud, anyway regardless wonderful photography, drone work and researching the pics from yesteryear
Very interesting Ant and neatly edited. The N.L.S. maps are such a fantastic resource. It's weird, looking at the side-by-side maps, how there's nothing in the modern map - just water. Really looking forward to the next chapter.👍😁
Hiya. The remains seen just coming out of the water are those of Derwent Hall. All the paths further on were part of the Waterhouses gardens. This is where they grew all the crops etc for the Hall. Hope that clears up the mystery 🙂
I went up 2 weeks ago and there was more visible. If you can get your hands on The Silent Valley book by Vic Hallam it tells you about the village and there's loads of old photos. I was lucky to see the village in 2018 when levels dropped really low. 😊
Superb video amazing looking back at the buildings that used to be there a lot of history gone forever what a great place and history ,shame the old church tower was blown up that would have been great to see .
What a truly amazing ,intriging sad story, i cannot imagine what those poor people felt as they were told to leave and if any stood by and actually watched the village be flooded ,but how did they flood it ,
Interesting and thoughtful video. We have a similar thing in Wales, where a valley and village were submerged to form a reservoir, though there is still considerable resentment towards the deed, even after all this time. You don't mention local reaction. That Mini made me laugh. One of my neighbours had his Mini Cooper stolen in the 60s'. Years later, it was found in a reservoir when the level went down. Back then, I think it was a regular thing to take cars like that, the Cooper being the hot hatch of its day.
@@daveanthony5050 I don't like all that 'Hate' stuff. Sad story, I know. Worst part was that the Gov promised to re-bury the bodies in the churchyard, but didn't. They move three or four bodies and gave up. Very sad for the people left behind.
Really enjoyed that video thank you for making it. My father used to like a run out to Derwent Reservoir whenever the reservoir was low and we could see remains of the village then sticking out of the water. I remember seeing the spire sticking out of the water, they blew it up because they were worried about safety issues.
Cracking video really enjoyed that. Could be worse mind you imagine being forcefully evicted from your village for it to be flooded to provide another nation with drinking water. Cofiwch Dryweryn.
A great video, and rather poignant for me. After returning from the horrors of the "Great " War, and suffering from the effects of mustard gas, my grandfather took on a chicken farm at Ashopton. To think that he would have walked those roads and worshipped in the church, sends a shiver down my back.
My grandad worked on the dam, he lost his dog 'carl' down one of the overflows
Amazing story ,,,!! Cheers 🍻
That's incredible to think about Rich. He really would've walked that very place. Wow.
Interesting. Criminal that such history & society / community is drowned.
It really is a sad loss. Thank you for watching
One of your best so far ! I was lucky enough a few years ago to fly at low level between those two towers on the Dam in a Faulke Motor Glider ( VW beetle engine ) from Camp Hill. You never realise what was once under that expanse of water. Great work !
Thanks very much John for your kind words. Also I bet that was an amazing experience
When I was younger me and my late grandparents used go to the Dronfield Contact Club every Sunday. They got to know a few locals we used to sit with a lady who in her younger years used to walk in the Peak District and Derwent Valley was one of her favourite spots. Nora was born in 1912 she would get on the bus and get off at Ashopton Inn I think she used to go in the pub sometimes. She did mention Derwent Hall at that time it was used by the Youth Hostel Association you could visit it, later the Hall was used by a girl's school after they got bombed out. They stayed for a few years before returning back to Sheffield. I got the impression Nora never really approved of the flooding of the valley she visited once after the dam was completed she never went back.
The mysterious road at about18 minutes in could be the old drovers road, where they brought sheep from further afield on the way to market. There is (or was) an old drovers bridge right up the valley where the path gets steeper. The church tower was originally left standing, but was blown up after people started to swim out toit for a dare. Back in the 1960s there was another drought, and the photographs that I had from that time showed the valley with a lot less water than today. The ghostly shape at 20 minutes looks like an old garden. There is obviously nearest the camera a cross with a ring. The map quite clearly shows some gardens there, and it matches with my original 1920s/1930s map of the area, which states that this is either the site of Derwent Hall or Hollinclough Farm, not sure which because of the scale.Why it is marked Waterhouses I'm not sure, but it could be because after the building of Howden Dam, Sheffield Corporation did buy some houses in the area for water board staff to live in. The steps and wall could be part of a tiered garden scheme, rather than a loading bay. Also in that area was Dabbey Grange, and Howden House. There are various small streams, Abbey Brook, separating Dabbey Grange and Howden House and Cranberry Clough, opposite Slippery Stones, although I think these were covered by the Howden Dam. The whole area was a training ground for the Lancaster Bombers that made up the Dam Busters in the 2nd World War. If you want a scan of the map, please let me know.
I’d agree with you about the gardens, and what clearly appears to be the remains of a great house or hall. Ditto with the idea of a tiered garden area. The area is pretty silted up too. Pretty amazing to see thing that are normally underwater under the sunshine.
That path looks like it follows the boundary between farm area and woodland. Heads dead straight then turns left as it approaches the old river. I'm just looking at old maps though.
Remember going u in 76 when the water went reet down. Sbeen down enough to view since.....
Drovers roads generally followed contours of the land. I'd say it was very unlikely that this was such a road considering the way it cuts across the valley.
That’s incredible, it’s like those gardens have come to life again as the grass seed has regrown … amazing
Hi Ant. It must be said, this is one of your best videos to date. Full of history, mystery and intrigue, A well taken opportunity to investigate a site not often seen by folk. Beautifully presented in your usual uncomplicated way. Thank you my friend, thoroughly enjoyable. Bob
Thanks very much for your kind words Bob. I intend to return next week and follow this up 🙂🙂
Excellent video. The ending was very touching.
Cheers Martin. Glad you enjoyed it 🙂
What a beautiful area but also a sad sight to see the remains of what was once a thriving and beautiful Village
I agree. Thanks so much for watching :)
Fantastic video very enjoyable so very interesting 👍 keep them coming.
Thanks for watching Craig 🙂🙂
Lovely piece of film and music choice... very moving to watch what was originally there.
Thank you.
Thanks very much I'm glad you enjoyed it. Part 2 is in the works 🙂
Superb footage and very informative .Many Thanks looking forward to the Derwent episode.
Thanks very much Tony I'll hopefully be up there again very soon 🙂🙂
Very interesting, but so sad, the ghosts of people’s lives
Love these types of videos all that history forgotten in time All memories gone
Lovely video, the melancholic music evoking a sadness of times past. Thanks for exploring and showing us along with the old photos what it was like. Thant amazing submerged bridge! shame...
Thanks very much for watching and your kind comment :)
Very interesting video. I was also there in 1976 with my Dad and two younger brothers. It was very low then and you could see a lot of the Ashopton foundations. The famous Derwent church spire had gone by them although my Dad told us about it as he had seen it many times before I was born.
A real quality watch, thank you Ant for putting that film together. I saved it especially for this evening when I had more time on my hands to enjoy it, it didn’t disappoint.
Thanks very much John it means a lot. Part 2 is on it's way 🙂
@@TrekkingExploration Can’t wait 👍👍
Wow Ant that was amazing to see, i loved the drone footage as you could clearly make out formal gardens possibly allotments or animal enclosures. Hope you enjoyed your walk of the Midland and great Northern railway in Norfolk there are many more hidden gems along the route some of which I recovered including chairs an original 1880s sleeper with rail fixing and gradient post arms. Whitwell and Reepham station is worth a visit and the ramains of the old wayside station at Honing. Keep up the great videos and look forward to the next one.
As a local lass this is one of the best documentaries I've watched on rhe Derwent. Thankyou, this was such an enjoyable watch from start to finish. Never had chance to experience it so dryed out.
Oh wow thank you very much for such a kind comment. I was back yesterday doing a second part and shall return Friday hopefully for a third as long as the weather is good. Thank you ❤️
@@HolyFreakinDragonSlayer I've tried to find you as The Rambling Rose however the only one that comes up is from Australia
@@HolyFreakinDragonSlayer found you 🙂
The water was lower than this in 1976, but I remember there being more building and wall remains back then.
The detail you go into is amazing, even down to the last Hymn. Amazing piece of work, Ant. Congratulations. It's absolutely stunning. I really do appreciate the upload.
Very interesting Ant, brilliant commentary, drone footage was brilliant,and to finish with the Hymm was very fitting,,another video well done xx
What a fantastic upload. Fascinating indeed. My grandfather help build the reservoir early 1930s or thereabouts. As kids we played under the bridge at the ladybower pub. New subscriber Richard. Thank you for this upload.
A wonderful well thought-out tour of the resavoirs at Derwent and what was once Derwent and Ashopton village's.
I'm pleased you enjoyed it and thankyou so much for watching
I love your choice of music, particularly the use of the piano but also the historical research and the sensitivity in which you handle your material - magic.
I live not far from there and I walked into that building at 33:43 back in the early 90s.... back when we got really long and hot summers (and long and cold winters.)
Ant, another epic walking tour/explore enjoyed from the comfort of my laptop. I hope you realise what love there is out here for your sheer hard work, enthusiasm and inspiration that comes over. Oh, and a great playlist selection as usual - all Shazam'd for further listening . Thanks so much and keep 'em coming 👏👏👏
Thanks so very much for your kind comment. I'm glad you enjoyed them. There is a part 2 coming very soon
At 20:18 that looks like a laid out formal garden, the water works may reference to fountains, perhaps at the 2 circular shapes up the higher contour.
Another excellent video, I went there back in 2018 when the levels were even lower and the old pump house was high and dry. It's also sad to think the remains of Ashopton village will never be seen again
Thankyou. I'm planning on going back in a couple of weeks before the levels begin to increase again
Now its happening too England ONLY THIS time its migration that's foulding the identity of England into a memory?.
Aye, been theere when t'owd halls proof of existence has been exposed to view.
Hi Ant, top notch video, nice history and excellent choice of music. Thank you.
Thanks very much Philip 🙂🙂
What a fantastic programme thoroughly enjoyed it mate,, love history,,, and its on my door step😍👍❤️🇬🇧🇬🇧
Thanks so much Stephen. I've already been back to film and walk a follow up
Another great & fantastic video of The Ghosts of a Drowned Village - Derwent & Ashopton Derbyshire!.💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
Thanks for watching Michael 🙂🙂🙂
Beautiful vidio. Thank you for sharing this amazing bit of history. So sad that they destroyed what looked like a beautiful village
Good video; I hope you return before the winter comes as the level will continue to drop.
I became fascinated in the lost villages during the drought of 1976. I've seen and walked amongst the ruins of Derwent in 1989, 1996 and 2018.
Re what look like ornamental gardens, you can picture where glass houses probably stood.
Thanks very much David. I plan to return in a couple of weeks :)
Incredible film. Very moving. The ending had me in tears. Very powerful documentary. So interesting to see before and after. Found. It scary to see the drought. Hope we can get enough rain soon to fill it all up. Wow wow wow Ant. You deserve an award for this film. Thank you.
Thankyou Shirley that means a lot. I loved that i could add the song at the end :)
Like looking back in time! It's amazing what is revealed when the water is so low. Certainly ghosts of the past. At around 20:26 when your showing the aerial view, it looks like the remains of some grand garden - the type of thing a hall or manor house might of had. Certainly very formerly laid out. Would love to find some old photos of the garden at it's prime. I can almost imagine the gardeners doing their work, pruning the roses and trimming hedges. Lovely to get a glimpse of the past like this.
EDIT - Did you know that the famous 617 squadron - the dam busters, used derwent dam for practice sorties prior to their flights over to Germany during WW2. Must have been quite a sight seeing Lancaster bombers flying in low across the dam, and then out over the valley that once contained the village of Derwent. Just so much history!
The old photos and music really brought the history to life 💞
Thanks so much Frank
Another brilliant presentation. I love your enthusiasm and of course your Nottingham accent. Keep them coming.
Thanks very much Phillip. Much appreciated
Brilliant video Ant, I once did a delivery to kilder scout camp but as I was trying to find it I was following a small lane which suddenly ended and disappeared down into the water, it was quite eerie, a road that once went down to the village I guess, hence I had to back up this lane to get out as I was in a truck
Such a sad vid when you see those B&W photos. Looks like they actually demolished the buildings before flooding it?? Loving the drone work showing what looked like a formal garden layout. Another one of your enthusiastic vids, thanks Ant👍👍👍👍
Yes,they demolished nearly all of the buildings
@@davidknowles3459 Why did they demolish them? It seems unnecessary it would have been an interesting experiment to see how long they lasted submerged in water.
Wonderful. Been there many times but never when the water level was so low.
Great video! I was lucky enough to be there when the water level was even lower in 2018 and was intrigued by the fireplaces and gate posts of what I’d assumed was Derwent Hall. It’s great to put what I saw in context from all your research!
Same here, there is loads more than this.
2018 was dryer in the first have of summer but I didn't think the dry spell lasted long enough to drop reservoir levels lower than now.
I've been fascinated by the sad demise of Ashopton and Derwent villages for a long time. Your detailed video is excellent and certainly does the history of these villages justice. Its one of the most comprehensive videos I've seen on the subject. I'm so glad you was able to do this, when the water level was so low.
Thanks so very much. There is a shorter second part coming very soon 🙂
I walked around Ladybower last week and also noticed the area around Water Houses 20:26. The stones used to mark out these squares are single stones laid on edge, it's not like they are the remnants of foundation stones, the area looks more likely the remains of a kitchen garden. They are also extremely clean, like they were laid yesterday, no build up of sediment or moss. What I also find fascinating is how the weeds are growing prolifically in the square's yet hardly at all on the paths, in other words after all these years under water the soil within the square is still so much more fertile than on the path.
Lovely if poignant video.Thankyou for sharing.
Thanks very much I'm glad you enjoyed it 🙂🙂
great video well done driven past it many times always wondered what was there before
Thanks so very much. I'm currently working on part 2 🙂
Brilliant mate I used to go fishing there about 30 Years ago .First class explorer.
Thanks very much for watching. Glad you enjoyed it 🙂🙂
Fantastic filming Ant. Great history lesson. Looking forward to Howden too.
Thanks very much Mick. I plan to do a few of these walks over the Winter :)
Fantastic video, very informative and even my kids enjoyed watching this one. Keep up the brilliant work. 😀👍🏻👍🏻
Thanks very much John. Part 2 is currently in the works
@@TrekkingExploration that’s great news, can’t wait for it. 👍🏻😀👍🏻
Another great video Ant. What I find amazing with this reservoir particularly is how quickly it both fills and drops in levels. Back in March this year a lot of Snake Pass was under water and the reservoir virtually full and yet only a couple of months before that it was really low again.
I remember in 2018 it was very low for Months then a few days of rainfall and cold temperatures it was soon filling and full a few weeks later
@@TrekkingExploration It was very low in 1976, but I seem to remember more remains of buildings being visible back then. My dad took us round in whatever clapped-out jalopy we had back then, as it was the dryest & hottest summer on record at that point We've surpassed that several times since I believe, though that's nothing to brag about. Was followed by a cold winter with more snow than I had ever seen, & my dad said it reminded him of winter in 1947 in Edinburgh (apparently it was a bad one with snow drifts yards high).
Brilliant informative video Ant, it's stunning there isn't it? I've never seen the water that low before. Still find it amazing there was once a beautiful village & church plus the stunning Derwent Hall there before it 'drowned'. Thanks again Ant. ❤😊
Gorgeous vid, Ant. Really lovely work. I actually saw a programme on the tv that touched on this subject.
Awww brilliant I'm so pleased you enjoyed it
Thank you that was very interesting and fascinating
Thank you. I'm pleased you enjoyed it 🙂
Great video - i was there last week and was astounded by the no drone signs - But you really delivered a great informative video and I enjoyed it..
Thank you Ant, found that very interesting, love the map comparisons. Take care.
Thank you very much Christine
I thoroughly enjoyed this video. Haven't seen any other stuff of yours. Loved the background music. You have an instant covert and new subscriber. Thank you for making my day.
Thanks so very much Steve I've just been back this morning to do a follow up 🙂
That was a great vlog. Even my misses was hooked on it. I like the railway walks you do but this was great 👍👍
Thanks very much Carl that's much appreciated 🙂🙂
What a magnificent video. Thank you so much for sharing this with us - gave me real tingles! The aerial shots of the gardens near Water Houses were sublime. I've never seen that before. Hope you go again in October/November and film Derwent Hall and the school. Once again, massive thank you for a brilliant video.
Wonderful video, Ant!
Thank you so much Michael
What a awesome video and a good history lesson for me. Never been there . I'm always interested in old nottingham and it's history. Thank you very much for this.
Thanks so very much for watching Cliff. There's a part 2 in the works as well as much more in Nottinghamshire 🙂
@@TrekkingExploration awesome I can't wait to watch. Just subscribed
Excellent video. I've been waiting for this one.
I was there a few weeks ago, but I didn't have time to go where you were and explore, so your film shows what I have missed.
I've been interested in these villages since I had a photo book a few decades ago. It showed the ruins of the Hall in '76. Amazing that the water was even lower then, given that the top of Ladybower where you walked is just a small stream at this time.
A great document of this 2022 drought.
Your drone footage was amazing, especially showing the old garden and it coming back to life too, incredible.
Absolutely brilliant thanks Ant. Such an awesome place, love going there once in a while.
Thanks Brendan. I'm hoping to get back before levels rise as there is more to see
Maevellous video! From the ghostly old photo's and magnicent aerial shots to the informative maps and fascinating exploration of the normally submerged relics, this was a joy to watch and learn something of what was lost a century or so ago. Looking forward to your video on the dam - what a superb structure. Well done!
Glad you enjoyed it Malcolm. Thankyou for watching and your kind comment
Super video, Ant! Well done, very interesting 💪🏻👍🏻
Thanks so much Frank
Excellent vlog and great footage & detailed. You put a lot of effort in to all yr vlogs Ant. All yr vlogs are Fan Tas Tic 5*. The drone footage is excellent to. Love all the history and effort put into this. We will never know how many hrs & editing it takes to produce just great vlogs.... Keep up the great work
Fantastic video, very interesting and well produced. 👍
Thanks so very much. Glad you enjoyed it. Part 2 is in the works 🙂🙂
Absolutely fascinating video Ant. The reservoir showing its past, thank you. 👌
Good job Ant, I'm loving your enthusiasm for the subject. Thanks for sharing it with us all. ; - )
Thanks very much for your kind words 🙂
A real great video, Ant. It's really fascinating to see the remains of a lot of the old building foundations and walls now that the water in the reservoir is so low. The maps and the old photos that you show, really compliment the history of the drowned hamlet that was there before being flooded over. The stone bridges are in totally excellent condition considering that they are normally covered over. A very enjoyable production, packed full of interest, and so, many thanks.
Fabulous video which just popped up on my YT suggestions.I found this really interesting so now I am going to watch some of your others.xx
Thanks very much Gillian 🙂🙂
Been here on many occasions live over the border in Notts and when I was a young girl in the 70s you could see a few more structures than today always wished they would have made it more of tourist attraction with a museum sharing all the photos and stories of the wonderful village greatvideo
Superb and well researched video - you deserve all the credit you get. Brilliant
I went in 1976 when the water was even lower. What sticks in my mind was a small stone bridge over the remaining small stream in the bottom of the valley. Mind boggling at the time to think it was normally under many feet of water.
There was also a large building, still mainly standing, which I thought was the church at the time minus the tower, but maybe not if it was demolished. Several other ruins and foundations could be seen.
Nice to see the photos to get context. Interesting video, good job.
I've noticed there seems to be a lot less standing than there was in 1976, I guess some of that will be due to the increase in the level of silt which is usually on the bottom of the lake/reservoir.
@@AnthonyIlstonJones yes maybe so. Very interesting video anyway. Have you seen that guy that has done the same thing but up in Yorkshire I think. Can't remember his name, maybe Martin, but I was surprised to see the water was even lower than his last trip, when he went recently. There is quite a substantial bridge still standing at that one.
Have you seen any of the drought footage out of china? Some of the before and after footage is jaw dropping. The interesting thing is they keep finding man made stuff there as well.
@@crabby7668 Yes, I watch Martin Zero regularly. Baitings reservoir is only about 10 miles from where I live, though I haven't seen it recently.
Not seen the footage from China, but to be fair any time a reservoir is created people are going to be displaced. China just does things on a whole different scale.
@@AnthonyIlstonJones that's the man! Yes it was interesting that it kept depleting even after the "drought" broke so he got to see the bottom of the sunken bridge, which he couldn't in his first trip. If you are that close I would think it worth a personal visit even if you don't do a public video.
The China stuff is interesting because it shows huge rivers like the yangtse etc practically empty and looking a bit like the LA storm drains in terminator. Also some huge lakes where temples on islands are now practically just on knolls in a prairie.
I was thinking of our visit I '76 , my sister (10) got stuck in the mud on that little bridge, being the good big sister (12) I went to help. Eventually we got out covered in mud wellies in hand and rather cross parents.
Great video, really love Derwent.
Unsure what the tarmac road is early in the vid but looking on the old maps there is a couple of fords crossing the river (shows how shallow it was), the wall I assume was an old farm wall, there's a few visible along the edges of the reservoir.
You can usually drive all the way up to Howden Reservoir, but only on week days, however its closed currently due to tree felling.
The ruin now visible with yellow stone in it is Derwent Hall, there's a few old photos of this online, in Oct 2018 I was able to walk in the ruins. I'm hoping next week when I return I can see the lover's seat that was close by and next to the river 🤞
The gardens were the kitchen gardens, next to the waterhouses. Amazing how they look on the drone footage, the paths clearly visible still after all this time.
There was another ford that's visible where the Derwent bends just past the pipeline, and a ruin inc a hole to presumably a cellar, it's close to Fairholmes which was a former farm, but the building now visible isn't on old maps.
Something else that remains a mystery is some foundations of something up on Howden Reservoir. I recently found a document online containing old farms in the area but this ruin wasn't mentioned so I can only assume it was either a house or a barn.
Would be great, or worrying perhaps, to see Ashopton Village, but I've seen that it's highly unlikely due to the amount of silt built up in Ladybower reservoir, plus you've only got to work out how far underwater it is given the size of the viaduct and how it currently looks. I reckon that's gone forever.
One house remains of Ashopton at least, Ginett House on the banks of the reservoir, as Miss Cotterill refused to move out.
Cheers Paul. I'm hoping to get up there again next week to do more 👍
Shouldn't the water authority take this opportunity to dig out some of the silt and increase the capacity of the reservoir for the future?
Ant this is absolutely beautifully filmed and very interesting. I have never visited the area but from your videos feel I must come and see the reservoir's next year (obviously hopefully full of course!) but the surrounding countryside looks wonderful. Thanks for posting them.
wow.. I live near here in a van - love it
Thanks for watching Pete 🙂
Fantastic video. I loved the beautiful closing hymn, said to have been sung at the final service of the old Methodist chapel... Very moving... and that's from me, an old, life-long Atheist.
Simply a great and informative video. Good work. I wonder who used to stroll around the decorative gardens..
Thanks very much 😊
Check out one of the follow up videos where the levels are much lower
brilliant and informative video. a great watch.
Thank you very much 🙂
To fully understand the landscape you need to study the 1900, the 1920's and the 1940's OS maps, The building you call pump houses are manual valve houses to control flow. Notice no power input. The submerged one is for the pre Ladybower pipe line from Derwent reservoir which was duplicated to its current position near the old railway line track bed, so it was not underwater as Ladybower filled. The pipeline goes through the road bridge structure. A57. I had a great uncle who had to move from his farm near the Ashopton railway viaduct as the dam was started. His whole farm equipment and animals where moved by train to Ashbourne - Derby road. He lost half his farm to the RAF when they built Ashbourne airfield in the early 40.s.
Well Ant you’ve done it again. Excellent video and like all your videos like this we all can just imagine living in that era through your videos. Great works and keep it up 👍
Excellent documentary 🥇
Been this area many a time, and Derwent Edge hiking
Cheers Steve. It one of my favourite places, one i'd love to wild camp at too
A bumper year for aerial archeology, stuff showing up in fields everywhere. Nice video thanks.
Being from sheffield at school we used to do sponsored walks around Derwent and Ladybower, some kids got done for swimming across lol
This is amazing!! Thank you so much for the time and effort gone into this. If only it could tell the lives of the people who were once there. Just fabulous 👏👏👏
Thank you very much Trevor. Have a look at the others if you get chance. I've just released a new one this evening with Ladybower at it's lowest
The area you thought were wash houses were in fact the kitchen gardens of Derwent Hall, a typical layout of the time. Fascinating video thanks for showing us round.
Quite a walk from the main Derwent hall building then. Thanks very much for watching
Thank you for this very interesting piece of history. Really gripping.
I'm pleased you enjoyed it. Thank you 🙂
Thanks for the video, Ant! A sad video, but truthful. 😢
Love your enthusiasm Ant, wouldn't it of been funny if some of us on here had been tipped off and placed some railway architecture almost completely hidden in the mud, be so funny if you started finding fish plates and bits of sleepers and a convincing 'British Railways Ashopton' sign 4/5 submerged in the mud, anyway regardless wonderful photography, drone work and researching the pics from yesteryear
Very interesting Ant and neatly edited. The N.L.S. maps are such a fantastic resource. It's weird, looking at the side-by-side maps, how there's nothing in the modern map - just water.
Really looking forward to the next chapter.👍😁
Hiya.
The remains seen just coming out of the water are those of Derwent Hall. All the paths further on were part of the Waterhouses gardens. This is where they grew all the crops etc for the Hall. Hope that clears up the mystery 🙂
Amazing thanks very much. Apparently the hall is more visible now so I need to pop back 😀
I went up 2 weeks ago and there was more visible. If you can get your hands on The Silent Valley book by Vic Hallam it tells you about the village and there's loads of old photos. I was lucky to see the village in 2018 when levels dropped really low. 😊
Great video Ant
Have you been to Tittesworth Reservoir near Leek, when the water level is low parts of the sunken village of Meerbrook appear.
Absolutely fascinating. Thank you, I really enjoyed this and your choice of music made ne feel the past
i swam out to the church in 1976 with some friends . the church was still standing back then, and the water was low after a hot summer
Superb video amazing looking back at the buildings that used to be there a lot of history gone forever what a great place and history ,shame the old church tower was blown up that would have been great to see .
A wonderfully researched video - thank you so much for all your hard work so important to remember such things.
What a truly amazing ,intriging sad story, i cannot imagine what those poor people felt as they were told to leave and if any stood by and actually watched the village be flooded ,but how did they flood it ,
I really like the music for your video, very solemn....
Interesting and thoughtful video. We have a similar thing in Wales, where a valley and village were submerged to form a reservoir, though there is still considerable resentment towards the deed, even after all this time. You don't mention local reaction. That Mini made me laugh. One of my neighbours had his Mini Cooper stolen in the 60s'. Years later, it was found in a reservoir when the level went down. Back then, I think it was a regular thing to take cars like that, the Cooper being the hot hatch of its day.
Was this reservoir for Birkenhead?
@@daveanthony5050 Yes. Birkenhead & Liverpool.
@@MartysWhiteSuit yeah I thought so am from Wirral heard that story about people from wales hate Birkenhead 😂
@@daveanthony5050 I don't like all that 'Hate' stuff. Sad story, I know. Worst part was that the Gov promised to re-bury the bodies in the churchyard, but didn't. They move three or four bodies and gave up. Very sad for the people left behind.
Really enjoyed that video thank you for making it. My father used to like a run out to Derwent Reservoir whenever the reservoir was low and we could see remains of the village then sticking out of the water. I remember seeing the spire sticking out of the water, they blew it up because they were worried about safety issues.
Cracking video really enjoyed that.
Could be worse mind you imagine being forcefully evicted from your village for it to be flooded to provide another nation with drinking water.
Cofiwch Dryweryn.