Ystradfellte Reservoir

Ystradfellte Reservoir
A view of Ystradfellte Reservoir
Location of lake in Wales
Location of lake in Wales
Ystradfellte Reservoir
Location within Wales
LocationWales
Coordinates51°50′56″N 3°31′48″W / 51.849°N 3.530°W / 51.849; -3.530
Typereservoir
Afon Mellte / River Mellte
Afon Mellte / River Mellte
2.3 km2 (570 acres)
Basin countriesWales
Max. length1,220 metres (4,000 ft)
Max. width66 m (217 ft)
Surface area
200 acres (81 ha)
Average depth
30 ft (9.1 m)
Max. depth132 ft (40 m)
Water volume
40,000,000 imp gal (180,000 m3)
Surface elevation
441 m (1,447 ft)

Ystradfellte Reservoir is a water storage reservoir on the Afon Dringarth in the upland area of Fforest Fawr within the Brecon Beacons National Park in South Wales. It lies just north of the village of Ystradfellte in the county of Powys at OS Grid ref SN 946178.

The embankment is 920 feet (280 m) long by 114 feet (35 m) high. When full the water surface is 1,204 feet (367 m) above sea level.

Construction

The reservoir was constructed between 1907 and 1914 by Neath Rural District Council for the supply of water. A temporary railway track was constructed for 7 miles (11 km) from the village of Penderyn to transport building materials to the dam site. Limestone was obtained from Penderyn Quarry and puddle clay was excavated from the glacial till at nearby Cilhepste Coed. Sandstone may have been sourced from Gwaun Hepste just east of Ystradfellte. The railway required the construction across the Afon Hepste of a 300 feet (91 m) long, 50 feet (15 m) high wooden viaduct.[1][2]

References

  1. ↑ Brecon Beacons National Park Authority
  2. ↑ ‘Reservoir Builders of South Wales’ (Dam Builders in the Age of Steam series book six) Bowtell H.D. & Hill G.