Derwent was once a small village in the heart of the Peak District in Derbyshire, but between 1935 and 1943 it was flooded to create a reservoir
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An abandoned village, purposefully submerged over 80 years ago and now ‘lost underwater’, mysteriously resurfaces from time to time, revealing its captivating past.
Derwent was once a bustling village located in the heart of Derbyshire’s Peak District. It boasted quaint limestone cottages lining scenic streets, offering breathtaking views across the undulating countryside that its inhabitants called home.
Despite its modest size, the village had all the necessary amenities, meaning its residents rarely needed to venture far. With its school, church, post office and grand manor house, complete with immaculately kept gardens and a substantial fishpond, the village was well-provisioned.
Sheep grazed on nearby hills and a small bridge spanned a river. Home to around 50 residents, this tranquil village took an unexpected turn between 1935 and 1943 when plans were approved to flood both Derwent and the neighbouring settlement of Ashopton.
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Predictably, these plans were met with resistance from locals who faced the daunting prospect of being uprooted from their homes. Despite the objections, residents relocated to the nearby Yorkshire Bridge estate, and by 1943, just two years before World War II ended, Derwent was transformed into a vast dam, reports Yorkshire Live.
This was done to supply water to the growing cities in the English Midlands.
This tragically meant that, as time passed, the village gradually vanished beneath the water as the valley filled with rainfall, mountain runoff, and rivers. Derwent ceased to exist, and became known as Ladybower Reservoir, with blue waters engulfing what was once a thriving community.
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Fortunately, the reservoir serves an important purpose, with the capacity to hold an impressive 27,869 mega litres of water, providing supply to the neighbouring cities of Derby, Sheffield, and Nottingham. It has emerged as a beloved destination for ramblers and wildlife lovers who admire the vast lake, nestled within the undulating hills of the Peak District.
Yet in 2018, following an ‘exceptionally dry and hot summer’, which dramatically lowered the reservoir’s water levels, the former Derwent resurfaced. As the reservoir dried up, the remnants of the Derwent church emerged, alongside doorways of cottages and walls.
Those who have wandered amongst the ruins have discovered a stone fireplace, paths near the church that once guided children to school, cottage walls, and debris from a small bridge. Former Derwent residents are believed to have visited the reservoir and reported hearing the church bell ringing, despite the bell being removed before the village was flooded.
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In 2019, the BBC interviewed Mabel Bamford, a 92 year old former Derwent resident, who revealed: “I may be the last person who remembers Ashopton and Derwent.”
Recounting her memories of the village to the BBC, she said: “I was going to school there, even as the construction of Ladybower was underway. We had to walk one and a half miles to Derwent. Sometimes the shooters and beaters in grouse season gave us a lift. But the rides we liked best were offered by the pipeline workers. They’d lift us inside the big black pipes they were constructing at the site of the reservoir.”
In 2022, the village made another appearance due to similar weather conditions that led to a drop in the reservoir’s water levels. The sight attracted hordes of visitors keen to see the remnants of a railway line and a church that briefly resurfaced.
The village made yet another comeback in 2025, thanks to low water levels revealing the ruins of the village church. It was reported that in September of the previous year, visitors could glimpse parts of the remains from Derwent Hall, before they were subsequently submerged following heavy rainfall in the area. However, it is believed that the village may continue to re-emerge in the future, offering glimpses into its past.