Drought reveals childhood memories of lost village

Drought conditions have revealed two lost villages that were flooded to create a new reservoir and sparked memories for one man who lived there during the Second World War.

Malcolm Thorp, 86, can now clearly see the spot where his house was and where he lived until the age of three in the village of Derwent in Derbyshire.

Along with the village of Ashopton, it was flooded in the 1940s to create Ladybower Reservoir, which provides water for Derby, Nottingham and Leicester.

But now, with the dry conditions over the last few months, it is less than a third full and it means stone from collapsed buildings in the villages can clearly be seen on the banks of the reservoir.

Malcolm said: "I always feel very pleased to see it (the village). I'm always pleased to see it. It's part of my childhood and memory."

His family used to live in the house next to the school, but unlike Malcolm, his mum Frances did not like people walking where their home was.

"My mum never liked to see it. When it was quite low in the 70s and a lot of people used to visit it, my mother always thought people were sort of standing in her front room and in her kitchen - but I love to see it," he added.

Ladybower was built between 1935 and 1943. There were compulsory purchase orders made for the houses in the two villages and bodies from the churchyards were exhumed and reburied in nearby Bamford.

On the banks of Ladybower Reservoir, there are piles of stones from St John and St James Church in Derwent, and the remains of Derwent Hall, which was owned by the Duke of Norfolk.

There was local opposition to the building of Ladybower Reservoir but, for Malcolm, there were also benefits.

New houses were built close to the reservoir at Yorkshire Bridge where Malcolm lives today.

"Even though people hated to leave, we came to more modern housing with electricity, with gas, with a proper toilet, with a bath, it was amazing," he added.

The reservoir has remained close to Malcolm's heart as he worked firstly in the General Maintenance Department of the Derwent Valley Water Board that was in charge of Ladybower.

Severn Trent then went on to run it with Malcolm as its manager.

"It was a terrific job. I had a terrific team of workers and a really good boss. It was just a pleasure to go round and look after everything and see that everything worked properly," he said.

Malcolm has a younger brother Peter, who is 84, and who also lived there briefly, but there are fewer people around now with memories of the village.

Despite the upheaval for those living in those two villages, Malcolm thinks it was worth it.

"When you think of all the places it serves now, it's a good job they did build another reservoir because otherwise everyone would be short of water," he added.

Listen to BBC Radio Derby on Sounds and follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.