£40.00
Ian Tyler (Signed Copy)
Status: Currently Unavailable
• Publication Date – 2025
• Format & Edition – Hardback, First Edition
• Pagination – 550 Pages, 1000 Illustrations
• Condition – New
The Drowning of Haweswater, Mardale and Wetsleddale including the valleys of Martindale, Swindale and Longsleddale by Ian Tyler. This is an excellent and wide ranging book looking at a number of issues in this region of Cumbria, from building new reservoirs and the flooding of former communities to the Shap railway and quarrying operations.
During the late 19th Century with the industrial expansion of Manchester, the population of the city continued to grow. This inevitably resulted in the demand for more water. This was first supplied by Thirlemere lake in Cumbria but soon this source became insufficient. Plans were drawn to evacuate the communities of Haweswater, Mardale and Wetsleddale and to flood the valleys, creating new reservoirs for Manchester. This occured during the 1930s. Remnants of former properties within these valleys can still be seen today when water levels have fallen to low levels.
Cumbria has certainly had its fair share of huge commercial instrusions into its landscape. The first being Preston, Lancaster & Kendal Canal in 1819, the railway in 1844 and the intrusion of the Manchester Corporation Water Works from 1897 to 1976.
With more than 1000 images, this detailed book by Ian Tyler examines the flooded valleys, lost communities and former properties. The book also provides five chapters on the building and operation of the Shap railway and the navvies involved. Also features chapters on Haweswater Burnbanks copper mine, Seahole slate quarry and mine, Mosedale slate workings, Wrengill slate quarry and Shap quarry.