Archaeology Notes

Event ID 817559

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/817559

NS40SE 34.00 47721 01398 to 47757 01533

Loch Doon Dam [NAT]

OS 1:10,000 map, 1978.

NS40SE 34.06 NS 47736 01431 Valve tower

For Loch Doon, Reservoir (centred NX 49 97) and associated structures, see NX49NE 20.

For other parts of the Gunnery School see NS40NE 78.00, NX49NE 17.00 and NX49SE 36.

Not to be confused with Muck Burn Dam (NX 50905 99160 to NX 50975 99219), for which see NX59NW 43.

Location formerly entered as NS 4773 0143.

Loch Doon dam

Purpose: seasonal storage

Type: gravity

Maximum height of footway above river-bed: 43ft (13.1m)

Total length along crest: 980ft (298.7m)

Spillway level: 705ft (22.9m) OD

Normal maximum depth over crest: 3ft (0.9m)

Overfall spillway length: 110ft (33.5m)

Syphons (3): 5ft 6ins (1.7m) outlet diameter

Normal maximum spillway capacity: 4675 cusecs

Anon. 1938 ['Galloway Hydro-Electric Development'].

Loch Doon dam was intially built to create a head of water for the hydro-electric power station required to power the target system and other elements of the Loch Doon Gunnery School. Designed to raise the water level of the Loch by 6 feet, the level was increased to 30 feet during 1936. This latter action drowned the elements of the gunnery school which were located close to the waters edge.

(Undated) information from Kirkdale Archaeology, Report for Loch Doon Action Group.

The pre-existing Loch Doon was dammed and the water level raised to form a major element of stage II of the Galloway Hydro-electric Scheme. It supplied water to the Water of Deugh, and hence to power stations at Kendoon, Carsfad (NX68NW 26), Earlstoun (NX68SW 147) and Tongland (NX65SE 86.00).

This dam was apparently intended solely to control the level of the loch, and so has neither integral nor directly associated generating capacity.

Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 21 October 2005.

Gibb and Partners et al. 1937.