Hidden Derbyshire village appears as reservoir dries up

Hidden Derbyshire village appears as reservoir dries up Image source, Getty Images Image caption, An old pump house, which once contained machinery used to supply water to local homes, is among the remains that can now be seen Published 23 October 2026 The remains of a village hidden beneath a reservoir have reappeared after months of unusually dry weather. Low water levels at Ladybower Reservoir, in Derbyshire, have exposed parts of the former village of Derwent, including the old pump house and building foundations. Despite recent wetter weather, the reservoir is currently just under 32% full. Severn Trent Water has warned visitors to stay on marked paths because the exposed reservoir bed is "extremely muddy and not safe to walk on". Huge lost city found in Mexican jungle Published 18 February 2025 Scientists find hidden city in the rainforest Published 13 January 2024 Image source, Getty Images Image caption, A wider view of the old pump house from Derwent village, exposed by the low water levels A reservoir is a large lake used to store water. Ladybower was built between 1935 and 1943 to provide water for the growing cities of Derby, Sheffield, Nottingham and Leicester. It took another two years to fill and was officially opened by King George VI in 1945. To create it, the settlements of Derwent and Ashopton were emptied. Homes, churches and limestone cottages were demolished or covered when the valley was flooded. Many local people strongly opposed the plans at the time. Usually, the ruins are hidden deep underwater. However, after six months of below-average rainfall and above-average temperatures, the water has dropped enough for some remains to become visible again. Image source, Getty Images Image caption, An overhead view shows the remnants of the village During the summer, a drought was declared in the East Midlands. A drought is a long period with much less rain than usual, which can leave rivers, reservoirs and underground water supplies running low. According to the Environment Agency, 82% of England remained in drought in October following the driest April-to-September in more than a century. Doug Clarke, Severn Trent's water resources lead, said: "We've seen six months of below-average rainfall and above-average temperatures so reservoir levels will take time to recover, but overall, across our region we've more stored than this time last year. "Reservoirs make up around a third of our water supplies, with the rest coming from rivers and groundwater, and our teams are continuing to work around the clock to treat more water and fix leaks at record levels. "But we're also asking customers to continue using water wisely all year round, to help ensure there is always enough to go around." Safety warning: Never enter a reservoir, always stay away from the edge, obey safety guidance signs and marked paths.