Burrator Dam

Burrator Dam is a reservoir dam built between 1893 and 1898 by engineers James Manserch and Edward Sandeman. It was raised by 10 feet between 1923 and 1928. The dam is constructed of concrete and faced with rusticated rock-faced granite. The outer wall has a significant batter at its base. At the center, there is a 5-bay arcaded weir spillway featuring battered bases to its piers and imposts to segmental arches. The dam includes rusticated stringcourses and coping on the parapets, with the coping raised over the weir spillway. A carriageway runs over the top of the dam, which has a similar parapet on the reservoir side. The abutments of the dam have curved splays. Burrator Reservoir, supplied by the River Meavy, serves the City of Plymouth and Devonport, originally holding 657 million gallons of water, which was increased to 1,026 million gallons after the dam was raised. This dam was the first substantial dam built in the South West of England.