A village submerged to build a Derbyshire reservoir is reappearing as drought leaves it less than 32% full

Across the English uplands, many reservoirs were built in the twentieth century by damming river valleys that already held farms, hamlets and small villages. The residents were moved, the dead bodies were relocated, and buildings were either demolished or allowed to be submerged by the rising water levels. Normally, none of this can be seen, as the water level is always higher than the ground level where the valley floor exists. A period of

drought changes all of this, however. As water companies start draining the reservoirs to meet demand, and with decreased rainfall and river flow replenishing the supply, the lower sections of the floor start revealing walls, roads, and bridges' foundations. People usually hear about it in the news and visit the place despite the dangers the exposed reservoir floor may pose, as it may be muddy and slippery. Most water companies post warnings to visitors about the dangers of the exposed floor.Ladybower Reservoir at just under 32% capacity A Yahoo News report published on October 22, 2026, stated that Ladybower Reservoir had fallen to around 32% of its capacity, exposing the former pump house associated with the submerged village of Derwent. The news further states that the East Midlands has already declared a drought in August. Moreover, in this same report, Severn Trent urges visitors to keep to the trails since the exposed ground of the lake is very muddy and dangerous for walking on.

Severn Trent states that approximately one-third of its drinking water comes from groundwater, while the remaining two-thirds is sourced from rivers and reservoirs.

Derwent and Ashopton, bought compulsorily between 1935 and 1945According to "Let's Go Peak District," the Derwent Valley Water Board acquired the structures at Derwent and Ashopton compulsorily from 1935 to 1945 against community resistance. The reservoir was constructed from 1935 to 1943, and it is stated that it took two more years to fill it. Derwent had a church that was rebuilt in 1757 and could seat 140 people, as recorded in the Derbyshire Historic Environment Record. The village also had Derwent Hall, a country house built in 1672. Ashopton was larger and busier than Derwent and stood along the main road between Sheffield and Glossop, as documented by the Bamford History Group. According to the Yorkshire Evening Post, the people were relocated to the Yorkshire Bridge estate near the dam, and the reservoir was inaugurated by King George VI on September 24, 1945.The Peak District National Park Authority's route leaflet for Ladybower puts the three linked reservoirs of Howden, Derwent and Ladybower at 210 hectares, the largest expanse of water in the Peak District. The leaflet also says that at times of exceptional drought the remains of Ashopton may be seen near the concrete A57 road bridge.Earlier reappearances in the summer of 1959 and again in 2018This is not the first time that the village has come up. In late summer 1959, drought exposed the ruins of Derwent village beneath Ladybower Reservoir, attracting visitors to the area. Photographic records held by Picture Sheffield document the exposed village and Derwent Hall in 1959. Let's Go Peak District notes that in 2018 the water was low enough for the ruins of the village to be seen again.Drought status from August 10, 2026 and the Environment Agency figuresThe Environment Agency's Midlands water situation: August 2026 summary records that the West Midlands moved to drought incident status on July 28 and the East Midlands moved into drought on August 10. Rainfall in the Midlands was 65 mm in August, 98% of the long-term average, with the Derwent catchment having the highest amount of 97.2 mm. The aforementioned Midlands report also highlights that the rainfall from June to August was below average in most parts of the region, with soil moisture deficits remaining high despite the rainfall in August. There were 118 water abstraction licence restrictions in place in the Midlands as of 31 August. The agency's weekly briefing, Dry weather and drought in England: 14 to 20 August 2026, states that 71% of England by land is in drought and counts 226 drought- and dry-weather-related incidents since the start of 2026.