Historic Buildings Record · Northern Ireland
Overflow pipe
Carrigenagh Upper, Newry, Mourne and Down, Northern Ireland
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade B+
- Grade
- B+
- Type
- Water Works Structures
- Date of listing
- 15 March 1996
- Date of construction
- 1920 - 1939
- Address
- Overflow pipe, Silent Valley Reservoir, Head Road, Kilkeel, Newry, Co Down, BT34 4PU
- Townland
- Carrigenagh Upper
- Council
- Newry, Mourne and Down
- Country
- Northern Ireland
- Coordinates
- 54.12876, -5.99934
- Date of survey
- 31 July 1997
- HB reference
- HB16/02/023
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 5 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1891 "Ireland 16" (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
The Department's description
Exterior description and setting
Inverted circular bellmouth opening set into pitched side of reservoir near its south-east corner. Externally faced with rock-dressed granite blocks in regular courses and coped with large blocks of darker coloured ashlar granite with rounded outer rim. Inside face of bellmouth has four concrete baffle ribs and is lined with blue brick over pre-cast concrete blocks. Intake diameter at cill is 80ft. Orifice tapers into 16ft diameter brick-lined concrete pipe which turns a right-angle at bottom and thence into rock-cut tunnel under dam. At far side of dam, pipe assumes horseshoe profile in cross section and eventually discharges into open channel just above scour valve house.
Historical information
Constructed in 1926-32 by Belfast City & District Water Commissioners as part of the Silent Valley reservoir. Designed to discharge excess water when it rises to within 8ft of the top of the dam. When plans originally drawn up, it was intended to have an overspill weir on the west face of the dam. However, this overflow pipe was found to be a cheaper alternative. Contractor Messrs S. Pearson & Son (London). Opened in 1933 along with dam.
Primary Sources:
1. Bronze plaques on valve tower wall.
2. Original drawing of the tunnel and weir in DOE Water Service, Westland House, Old Westland Rd, Belfast (cat. no. 1C1).
Secondary Sources:
1. G. McIldowie, ‘The construction of the Silent Valley reservoir, Belfast water supply’ in Proc. Institution Civil Engineers, N. Ireland Branch (Belfast 1934).
2. Belfast City & District Water Commissioners, ‘The Mourne Scheme’ (Belfast, 1959).
Criteria for listing: architectural interest
A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
G. Innovatory Qualities
J. Setting
K. Group value
Criteria for listing: historic interest
W. Northern Ireland/International Interest
Z. Rarity
V. Authorship
Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance
Evaluation
An integral part of the Silent Valley reservoir (HB16/02/064), this utilitarian structure shows remarkable thought in its form and execution. Historically it is of interest in its association with the second phase of the Mourne Scheme (the first being the impounding and diversion of the Kilkeel River to Belfast in 1901). It also functionally related to the discharge channel (HB16/02/024), of equally impressive design. As far as can be ascertained, it is also the only such reservoir overflow device of this type in N. Ireland.
Nearby in the register
- Valve Tower HouseWater Works Structuresunder 1 mi
- Water screening houseWater Works Structuresunder 1 mi
- Screening chamber (1933)Water Works Structuresunder 1 mi
- Lime dosing plantWater Works Structuresunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.