Gouthwaite Reservoir
{{Short description|Reservoir in North Yorkshire, England}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2019}}
{{Infobox body of water
| name = Gouthwaite Reservoir
| image = Gouthwaite Reservoir.jpg
| caption = Gouthwaite Reservoir
| alt = Image of a lake with steep hills beyond
| image_bathymetry =
| pushpin_map = North Yorkshire
| pushpin_map_alt = Relief map of North Yorkshire
| caption_bathymetry =
| location = England
| coords = {{coord|54|6|51|N|1|47|47|W|type:waterbody_region:GB|display=inline,title}}
| type = reservoir
| inflow = River Nidd
| outflow = River Nidd
| catchment =
| basin_countries = United Kingdom
| length =
| width =
| depth =
| max-depth =
| residence_time =
| elevation = {{convert|433|ft}}
| islands =
| cities =
}}
Gouthwaite Reservoir is in Nidderdale, North Yorkshire, England. It is one of many reservoirs in the area, others include Roundhill Reservoir and Angram Reservoir.
Gouthwaite is a compensation reservoir for the River Nidd, i.e. it maintains the downstream flow of the river during periods of high and low rainfall.{{cite news |title=Yorkshire Water to start £7m scheme to improve safety at Gouthwaite reservoir |url=https://www.waterbriefing.org/home/company-news/item/13913-yorkshire-water-to-start-£7m-scheme-to-improve-safety-at-gouthwaite-reservoir |accessdate=27 November 2018 |work=Water Briefing |date=12 May 2017}}{{cite book |last=Cudworth |first=W. |title=Manningham, Heaton, and Allerton (townships of Bradford) treated historically and topographically |publisher=Рипол Классик |year=1896 |isbn=978-5-87547-985-4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lVALAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA232 |accessdate=29 April 2019 |page=232}}
History
File:Gouthwaite Hall-geograph-5534881.jpg
The reservoir was constructed between 1893 and 1901.{{cite book |last=Jennings |first=Bernard |authorlink=Bernard Jennings |title=A History of Nidderdale |page=346 |year=1992 |isbn=1-85072-114-9}} The Elizabethan manor house of Gouthwaite White Hall, the ancient home of the Yorke family, was submerged beneath its waters. Gouthwaite Hall was rebuilt beside the reservoir with materials from the old hall, and is now a Grade II listed building.{{NHLE |num=1150482 |desc=Gouthwaite White Hall |accessdate=25 December 2012}} The Hall is known in theatre history for performances by travelling players hosted by John Yorke at Christmas 1609 and Candlemas 1610, which were denounced by a neighbour Stephen Proctor.Siobhan Keenan, "The Simpson players of Jacobean Yorkshire and the professional stage", Theatre Notebook, 67:1 (2013), pp. 16–35.
On 1 June 1978, a Royal Air Force Jet Provost aircraft crashed into the reservoir killing the pilot. His body and most of the aircraft were recovered in the following days.{{cite web |last1=Ranter |first1=Harro |title=Accident Hunting Jet Provost T3A XN598, 01 Jun 1978 |url=https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/56639 |website=aviation-safety.net |accessdate=16 July 2019}}{{cite web |title=Provost Training Aircraft (Hansard, 5 July 1978) |url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1978/jul/05/provost-training-aircraft |website=api.parliament.uk |accessdate=16 July 2019}}
Birdwatching
Gouthwaite Reservoir is a nature reserve and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).{{Cite web |url=http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1002575.pdf |title=SSSI citation |accessdate=25 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023223506/http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1002575.pdf |archivedate=23 October 2012 |url-status=live }} The reservoir is independently owned by the Gouthwaite Management Board, but they are advised by Yorkshire Water and the Environment Agency,{{cite news |title=Multi-million pound plan to improve safety at Gouthwaite reservoir |url=https://www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/news/environment/multi-million-pound-plan-to-improve-safety-at-gouthwaite-reservoir-1-8534412 |accessdate=27 November 2018 |work=Harrogate Advertiser |date=9 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181127193650/https://www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/news/environment/multi-million-pound-plan-to-improve-safety-at-gouthwaite-reservoir-1-8534412 |archivedate=27 November 2018 |url-status=live }} who have created viewing areas for bird watchers on the edge of the reservoir. Tree and shrub cover along the shoreline provides a habitat for small birds such as willow warbler and blackcap. Other records include woodland specialists like great spotted woodpecker and nuthatch. The green woodpecker has also been recorded.
In winter, after the summer migrants have gone, the reservoir margins are good for fieldfares and redwings. On the reservoir itself, Canada geese are always present and are joined during the autumn and winter by goosanders and goldeneye accompanied by mallard, tufted duck and pochard. Whooper swans from Iceland frequently join them.
Winter is also a good time for birds of prey with buzzards, red kites, hen harriers, merlins and kestrels being observed around the reservoir and the surrounding moorland. Ospreys and golden eagles are frequently observed on passage.
References
{{Portal|Yorkshire}}
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category-inline|Gouthwaite Reservoir}}
{{Reservoirs in Yorkshire}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Reservoirs in North Yorkshire
Category:Sites of Special Scientific Interest in North Yorkshire