Isle of Man Guide - RESERVOIR, West Baldwin Reservoir

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Above Sea Level:	500ft
Built:	Commenced 1900, opened 1905
Capacity:	300.74 M.G.
Location:	Northwest of Douglas
Max Depth:	71ft
Parking:	Ample, close by
Surface Area:	41.5 acres
Type:	Fly fish or spin

History

In 1900, Douglas Corporation commissioned the building of a reservoir at Injebreck. At its completion in 1905, the reservoir was called West Baldwin and had cost the corporation 77 thousand pounds to build. The reservoir has a height of 22.5 metres, depth of 20 metres, is nearly three quarters of a mile long and 300 yards wide. The reservoir has a surface area of 16.8 hectars and can hold up to 300 million gallons of water. It has a 18 inch cast iron draw off pipe and a 12 inch cast iron scour pipe. It also has another 12 inch pipe as a spare intake pipe.

Located just six miles north of Douglas, the site was still far enough away to need a its own railway line. The line opened at the start of 1901 and Douglas Corporation bought a locomotive, later named Injebreck, and many wagons to run along the three miles of track off the main line. Around 250 men were employed to build the reservoir. Most wanted to live in Douglas and so a basic carriage, later known as Charabanc, was arranged for their transport along the railway. Due to freak weather conditions and damage to the railway track and bridges another engine, known as Ardwhallin, was brought on board. As the railway line was extended in 1904 to five miles another engine, Hannah, joined the other two.

Location

The West Baldwin Reservoir (with a capacity of 300 million gallons) is located near the centre of the Island. A main road goes past the end of the dam.

Related News Articles

Angler Fined For Illegal Fishing 12 February 2008
In the High Bailiff’s Court on 29th January 2008, Mr K Edwards of 19 Port-e-Chee Avenue, Douglas pleaded guilty to the offence of using worms to catch fish in West Baldwin reservoir on 27th September 2007. [More]

West Baldwin Reservoir - new bypass main - temporary road closure 5 November 2007
The Isle of Man Water Authority’s contractor, Island Drainage and Groundwork, is making good progress on the installation of a new 2. [More]

No Need For Hosepipe Restriction 16 March 2006
As a direct result of the availability of extra water from the new treatment works in Sulby and the improvements in the pipeline and pumping facility from Sulby Reservoir over Beinn-y-Phott into West Baldwin Reservoir the Water Authority will not be introducing a hosepipe restriction in April as it has done in recent years. [More]