It was constructed by John Frederick Bateman between 1847 and June 1877 as part of the Longdendale Chain of reservoirs to supply water from the River Etherow to the urban areas of Greater Manchester.

c. cciii) gave permission for the construction of the Woodhead and Arnfield reservoirs and the aqueduct of the Mottram Tunnel.

This was supported on each side by selected strong earth material, and then gravel to form a slope of 1 in 1 upstream and 1 in 2 downstream.

The Heyden Viaduct, now known as the Woodhead Bridge, was completed in 1851, and turned over to the Salters Brook turnpike road that year.

To stop the leak, borings had been made, and ash injected under pressure in the hope it would act as a sealant.

An impervious clay membrane was laid in the upstream face to provide continuity with the 1877 embankment.

The length of the overflow sill was reduced and a new concrete box section installed to throttle the flow, which was directed into the Etherow Pool.