The dams, reservoirs and 73 mile aqueduct of the Elan Valley were built a hundred years ago to supply desperately needed clean water to Birmingham. It was an epic feat of civil engineering set within an area of outstanding scenic beauty.
Today, the dams and reservoirs provide a lasting amenity in their own right for visitors to enjoy as well as safeguarding the natural habitats of numerous species of flora and fauna.
Craig Goch, (my view), is the highest upstream of the series of dams in the Elan Valley, it is often referred to as the 'top dam'. It is located at a height of 1040 feet (317m) above sea level. As with all the dams, work started with the arrival of the railway line at the site. In the case of the top dam the line had the farthest to go and a rocky outcrop had to be blasted and dug through on the route to the site. Work on excavating the foundations for a secure base for the structure started in July 1897, some three years after the start of work on the lowest dam at Caban Coch.
Craig Goch is seen by many as the most attractive of the dams, with an elegantly curved retaining wall and a series of arches carrying a narrow roadway across the top of the dam. It has a domed valve tower and the structure is typical of the 'Birmingham Baroque' style of much of the waterworks scheme.
@cutekitty Many thanks for your comments & the fav. It was quite quiet when I was there. I think it is a bit more well known now, so it must have amazing back when you visited.
@pflaume Thank you so much for your lovely comments & fav. I agree it is an amazing scene especially when you drive around & see it for the first time. It was so peaceful when I was there, just the wind, wildlife & sound of the cascading water.
@ajisaac Yes...I remember it as very rural......I was about 16 at the time and went with my mum and dad just out for the day. My dad was a coach driver, and travelled all over the country, so he found out all these places....and then took me and mum to visit them.