Glen Finglas Reservoir, Dam And Valve Tower
Dam (Period Unassigned)
Site Name Glen Finglas Reservoir, Dam And Valve Tower
Classification Dam (Period Unassigned)
Alternative Name(s) Glenfinglas Reservoir; Finglas Water
Canmore ID 278976
Site Number NN50NW 52.01
NGR NN 52997 07906
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/278976
- Council Stirling
- Parish Callander
- Former Region Central
- Former District Stirling
- Former County Perthshire
NN50SW 52.01 52997 07906
Dam [NAT]
Valve Tower [NAT]
OS 1:10,000 map, 1978.
The location assigned to this structure defines what appears to be the valve tower, in the centre of the structure. The available map evidence suggests that the dam extends from NN c. 52869 07964 to NN c. 53050 07866.
Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 17 February 2006.
Project (2007)
This project was undertaken to input site information listed in 'Civil engineering heritage: Scotland - Lowlands and Borders' by R Paxton and J Shipway, 2007.
Publication Account (2007)
From 1881–1911 the consumption of water by Glasgow’s population had increased from about 37 to 70mgd which made it necessary to consider further supplies. The first scheme proposed involved damming Loch Voil and Loch Doine, but this met with serious opposition and was abandoned. An alternative source was found in Glen Finglas which extends into the hills northwards from Brig o’ Turk. TheTurk was to be dammed and the valley flooded to create a reservoir with a capacity greater than that of Loch Arklet. The waters were to be conveyed to Loch Katrine by an aqueduct 212 miles long, and the scheme was to provide an extra 19 mgd.
The necessary powers were obtained by an Act passed in 1915 but an effect of the Great War was to increase costs and the scheme was postponed and an additional supply obtained by the third raising of the level of Loch Katrine. The engineer for the original scheme was J. R. Sutherland. Although the ground for the reservoir and dam had been purchased, the scheme was not implemented until 1963–65 by which time a further increase in supply had become necessary. The concrete gravity dam is 115 ft tall and 720 ft long. The engineers were Babtie, Shaw & Morton and the contractor, Mowlem Scotland Ltd. The cost was about £800 000.
R Paxton and J Shipway 2007
Reproduced from 'Civil Engineering heritage: Scotland - Lowlands and Borders' with kind permission from Thomas Telford Publishers.
