Along with three other reservoirs around the village of Bradfield – Agden, Damflask and Strines – it was constructed between 1859 and 1864 by the Sheffield Waterworks Company to guarantee a supply of water to power the mills downstream and to supply drinking water to the growing population of Sheffield.

[3] The original dam was constructed to a height of 95 feet (29 m) by John Towlerton Leather, and was completed by April 1863.

[4] Filling took place soon after, and by 10 March 1864, the water level was 2 feet 4 inches (0.7 m) below the crest of the dam.

[5] At 23:30 on 11 March 1864, the day after the reservoir was finally full, the newly built dam failed.

[5] Over 690 million imperial gallons (3.1 Gl) of water cascaded down the valley causing the Great Sheffield Flood, which caused massive damage downstream along the Loxley and Don and through the centre of Sheffield, destroying over 5,000 properties and killing 244 people.