Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB16/02/023

Address :
Overflow pipe Silent Valley Reservoir Head Road Kilkeel Newry Co Down BT34 4PU

Townland:
Carrigenagh Upper

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Survey 2:
B+

Date of Listing:
15/03/1996 00:00:00

Date of De-listing:

Current Use:
Water Works Structures

Former Use
Water Works Structures

Conservation Area:
No

Industrial Archaeology:
Yes

Vernacular:
No

Thatched:
No

Monument:
No

Derelict:
No

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OS Map No:
278/4

IG Ref:
J3082 2180

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Owner Category

Central Govt

Exterior Description And Setting

Inverted circular bellmouth opening set into pitched side of reservoir near its south-east corner. Externally faced with rock-dressed granite blocks in regular courses and coped with large blocks of darker coloured ashlar granite with rounded outer rim. Inside face of bellmouth has four concrete baffle ribs and is lined with blue brick over pre-cast concrete blocks. Intake diameter at cill is 80ft. Orifice tapers into 16ft diameter brick-lined concrete pipe which turns a right-angle at bottom and thence into rock-cut tunnel under dam. At far side of dam, pipe assumes horseshoe profile in cross section and eventually discharges into open channel just above scour valve house.

Architects

Not Known

Historical Information

Constructed in 1926-32 by Belfast City & District Water Commissioners as part of the Silent Valley reservoir. Designed to discharge excess water when it rises to within 8ft of the top of the dam. When plans originally drawn up, it was intended to have an overspill weir on the west face of the dam. However, this overflow pipe was found to be a cheaper alternative. Contractor Messrs S. Pearson & Son (London). Opened in 1933 along with dam. Primary Sources: 1. Bronze plaques on valve tower wall. 2. Original drawing of the tunnel and weir in DOE Water Service, Westland House, Old Westland Rd, Belfast (cat. no. 1C1). Secondary Sources: 1. G. McIldowie, ‘The construction of the Silent Valley reservoir, Belfast water supply’ in Proc. Institution Civil Engineers, N. Ireland Branch (Belfast 1934). 2. Belfast City & District Water Commissioners, ‘The Mourne Scheme’ (Belfast, 1959).

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

A. Style B. Proportion C. Ornamentation G. Innovatory Qualities J. Setting K. Group value

Historic Interest

W. Northern Ireland/International Interest Z. Rarity V. Authorship Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance

Evaluation

An integral part of the Silent Valley reservoir (HB16/02/064), this utilitarian structure shows remarkable thought in its form and execution. Historically it is of interest in its association with the second phase of the Mourne Scheme (the first being the impounding and diversion of the Kilkeel River to Belfast in 1901). It also functionally related to the discharge channel (HB16/02/024), of equally impressive design. As far as can be ascertained, it is also the only such reservoir overflow device of this type in N. Ireland.

General Comments

Date of Survey

31 July 1997