Keppel Cove Disaster - 1927

The Greenside mine used lots of water for powering mechanisms and washing lead ore, so already had a number of dams in valleys above the mine. However in the early 1890's, a decision was made to build a hydro-electric plant to power the mine and even convert the underground railway to electric. Keppel Cove dam, largely built of earth, was enlarged, raising the depth to around 30 feet. The water level was controlled by a sluice gate. 

On Friday the 4th of November 1927, the water level in the dam was getting below the working level, so the sluice gate was closed. Unfortunately during that evening the Lake District was hit by a ferocious storm with very heavy rain. The dam soon filled up and waves, caused by strong winds, began to erode the top of the dam. As soon as water started to flow over the dam it didn't take long for it to give way and launch millions of gallons of water down the valley to join the already swollen streams below. Trees were uprooted, earth and even large boulders were carried along with the flow.

All of this was happening in the middle of the night, when most people were asleep. The first man made obstacle in its path was Rattlebeck Bridge, which proved no match and was swept away easily. A tree smashed through the wall of Rattlebeck Cottage, waking up Edward Parker and his family, who thankfully were able to escape as the flood water poured in.

Glenridding bridge proved to be a little stronger and remained in place, although the parapets were washed away. However, it was still an obstacle and caused the water level to rise up and spill over the top and to both sides, flooding the adjacent properties. In Milcrests Hotel (now called the Ullswater Inn), four female staff were asleep in the basement and awoke to find the room quickly filling with water, their screams got the attention of 16 year old boot-boy Ernest Thompson who managed to get them to safety.

It cost the Greenside Mine Company over £25,0001 in claims for damages, which almost crippled the business. The closure of the mine would have been another disaster as many of the villagers worked at the mine.

The loss of the dam left the mine without power, so the decision was made to construct a new dam as quickly as possible. This time it was built with reinforced concrete, onto bedrock and incorporated a concrete spillway. It was located about 100 feet below the old dam.  Unfortunately in 1931, this dam was also breached. A section at the base on the north side was undermined - what had been thought to be bedrock had, in fact, earth below it that had gradually eroded. Thankfully the flow was restricted by the size of the opening, so there was no repeat of the 1927 disaster.