Reservoir off Sandbank Rd

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A small water reservoir cut into the west side of Tornamrock and supplied by a tributary of Shankys River. Comprises an open cement-lined tank with intake chamber/pipe at south end, and abstraction pipe and control valve at north end. Surrounded by a galvanised metal fence, immediately outside of which is a post and wire fence.

Intake pipe carried underground from small weir across stream c.150 to the south. On right bank is intake chamber - a cement rendered structure with metal door on north elevation. Just south of the intake chamber, at the top of the bank, is a finely dressed granite stone. It measures 28cm x 18cm in cross section, and 75cm protrudes above the ground. It has a semicircular top. Inscribed on it in 7.5cm high letters is "NDC". There is a similar post on the west side of the track nearer the reservoir.

Historical information

Cited in July 1914 minutes of Public Health sub-committee of Newry No.1 Rural District Council as completed; contractor was John Graham and engineers Messrs Reside and McCarthy. Began to be filled in January 1915. First shown in 1919 OS 6" map and captioned 'Leitrim Reservoir (Newry RDC)'. Two more boundary posts are also on this map (now gone). Reservoir first appears in valuation revision books in 1919 as Rathfriland Water Works. Superseded by Spelga Reservoir in 1950s.

Primary sources
1. Newry No.1 District RDC Minutes (Public Health Sub-Committee) dated 27/6/1914, 25/7/1914, 24/10/1914, 23/1/1915, 27/2/1915 (PRONI: LA 56/2FA/8).
2. Ditto, 25/11/1916, 26/1/1918, 23/2/1918 (LA 56/2FA/9).
3. 4th edition OS 6" map, 1919 (Down sheet 52).
4. Valuation revision book, 1919 (PRONI: VAL 12B/22/12D, p.80).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Primarily of historical interest as an example of a small-scale local authority waterworks.