Audenshaw Reservoirs

The Audenshaw Reservoirs are a series of three large reservoirs in Tameside, Greater Manchester, originally built in the late 19th century to provide a reliable water supply for the growing population of Manchester. Constructed between 1877 and 1882 by the Manchester Corporation Waterworks, they were part of an ambitious engineering project that also included the Longdendale Chain of reservoirs in the Peak District. Water was transported from the moors via an extensive network of aqueducts and tunnels, ensuring clean drinking water for the expanding industrial city at a time when public health concerns over polluted water sources were rising.

Covering a significant area to the west of Audenshaw, the reservoirs dramatically altered the landscape, leading to the loss of parts of the original village, including homes and farmland, as land was flooded to create the new water storage system. For decades, they played a crucial role in supplying water to Manchester and surrounding areas, but as demand and infrastructure changed, the reservoirs were gradually decommissioned. Today, they are no longer in public use and are fenced off, with restricted access to protect the site.

Despite this, the reservoirs remain an important feature in the local environment, serving as a haven for wildlife, particularly birds, with various species making use of the open water and surrounding grasslands. They are also a familiar landmark for those travelling along the M60 motorway, sitting just alongside its route. While no longer serving their original purpose, the Audenshaw Reservoirs remain a reminder of Manchester’s pioneering approach to water management and the immense engineering efforts undertaken in the Victorian era to support the city’s rapid expansion.