Council Water Works - Buxton
Over the years, I seem to have been quite lucky with this place. A lot of other explorers I know have attempted to visit, only to find it sealed every time. I must have been here at least four times over the years that I can recall, often with different people, and there's always been the same obvious access—sheer luck, I guess.
The place hasn’t changed much over the years, with some funky bits of graffiti scattered around and great photo opportunities in the main corridor where the light beams in from all different angles. I’ve driven past a few times and noticed workers going in and out or a work truck parked up at the gates.
I’m not sure what the deal is with the site or what may become of it, but for now, it remains a nice, easy explore to enjoy.
History
“Just outside of Buxton bordering the Harpur hill area lies dormant the former BCWW (Buxton Corporation Water Works). Built in 1957 for the purpose of serving the nearby Stanley Moor reservoir. The reservoir’s principal feeds were two nearby streams, to the west and to the north. The flow was intercepted and directed through aqueducts to the intake chute, by the operation of “leaping weir” sluices. At its peak the reservoir could hold up to 450,000m3 which was later reduced. The reservoir however was a problem from the get go, being built over a problematic fault line between the limestone and gritstone it regularly leaked. Due to this a decision was made to decommission the reservoir and a breach was made in the dam wall to prevent the reservoir from ever filling up again. These actions left the pump house with no active purpose and has sat derelict ever since”.
