Ystradfellte Reservoir

Ystradfellte Reservoir is a water storage reservoir on the Afon Dringarth in the upland area of Fforest Fawr within the Brecon Beacons National Park in South Wales. It lies just north of the village of Ystradfellte in the county of Powys at OS Grid ref SN 946178.

Ystradfellte Reservoir
A view of Ystradfellte Reservoir
Ystradfellte Reservoir
Location	Wales
Coordinates	51.849°N 3.530°W / 51.849; -3.530
Type	reservoir
Primary inflows	Afon Mellte / River Mellte
Primary outflows	Afon Mellte / River Mellte
Catchment area	2.3 km^2 (570 acres)
Basin countries	Wales
Max. length	220 metres (720 ft)
Max. width	66 m (217 ft)
Surface area	200 acres (81 ha)
Average depth	30 ft (9.1 m)
Max. depth	132 ft (40 m)
Water volume	40,000,000 imp gal (180,000 m^3)
Surface elevation	441 m (1,447 ft)

The embankment is 920 feet (280 m) long by 114 feet (35 m) high. When full the water surface is 1,204 feet (367 m) above sea level.

Construction

The reservoir was constructed between 1907 and 1914 by Neath Rural District Council for the supply of water. A temporary railway track was constructed for 7 miles (11 km) from the village of Penderyn to transport building materials to the dam site. Limestone was obtained from Penderyn Quarry and puddle clay was excavated from the glacial till at nearby Cilhepste Coed. Sandstone may have been sourced from Gwaun Hepste just east of Ystradfellte. The railway required the construction across the Afon Hepste of a 300 feet (91 m) long, 50 feet (15 m) high wooden viaduct.[1][2]

References

1. Brecon Beacons National Park Authority
2. ‘Reservoir Builders of South Wales’ (Dam Builders in the Age of Steam series book six) Bowtell H.D. & Hill G.

External links

• Images of reservoir and area on Geograph website

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