Deep within the Peak District National Park, a ghost village lost to the waters for over eight decades makes eerie, intermittent reappearances, offering haunting glimpses into a vanished past.
The Flooding of a Community
Derwent was once a thriving, self-contained community nestled in a Derbyshire valley. Home to roughly 50 residents, it featured limestone cottages, a school, a church, a post office, and the grand Derwent Hall with its gardens and fishpond. This peaceful existence was irrevocably altered when, between 1935 and 1943, the valley was deliberately flooded to create a new reservoir.
The plan, which also submerged the neighbouring hamlet of Ashopton, faced local opposition but proceeded to meet the water demands of expanding Midlands cities like Derby, Sheffield, and Nottingham. Residents were relocated to the Yorkshire Bridge estate, and by 1943, the valley began to fill, eventually forming the Ladybower Reservoir, which can hold a vast 27,869 megalitres of water.
A Reservoir with a Secret
Today, Ladybower is a popular spot for walkers and nature enthusiasts, its blue waters set against the rolling hills. Yet, beneath the surface lies the intact footprint of Derwent. During periods of prolonged drought and significantly lowered water levels, the lost village dramatically re-emerges from its watery grave.
This phenomenon first captured widespread attention in 2018 after an exceptionally hot, dry summer. As the waters receded, the ruins of the village church, cottage doorways, walls, and even a stone fireplace became visible. Paths that once led children to school and debris from a small bridge were uncovered.
Echoes of the Past
The reappearances attract visitors keen to witness this tangible piece of history. In 2022 and again in 2025, low water levels revealed the ruins once more, including sections of a railway line and the church. Former residents have visited the site, with some reporting the surreal experience of hearing the church bell ring, despite it being removed before the flooding.
In a 2019 interview with the BBC, 92-year-old Mabel Bamford, who may be the last person to remember both Derwent and Ashopton, shared her childhood memories. She recalled walking to school as the reservoir was being built and getting lifts from pipeline workers inside the large black pipes destined for the construction site.
The story of Derwent is a powerful reminder of the communities sacrificed for modern infrastructure. While the reservoir serves a vital purpose, the periodic re-emergence of the village ensures that the memory of this 'lost underwater' settlement and its inhabitants is never fully forgotten.
