Butterley Reservoir in Nottinghamshire, created in 1795 by William Jessop for the Cromford Canal, covers 50 acres and holds 283 million gallons of water.
It features a railway line crossing it and has two distinct fishing spots, maintained by the Angling Club.
The reservoir is easily accessible from junction 28 of the M1.
Butterley Reservoir
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About Butterley Reservoir
Butterley Reservoir in Nottinghamshire is easy to find, just off junction 28 of the M1. Follow the signs for the Midland Railway Centre. The reservoir’s postal code is DE5 3QZ.
Built in 1795 by William Jessop, Butterley Reservoir is the biggest of three reservoirs made for the Cromford Canal. The other two, Codnor Park and Butterley Park, are no longer around. The reservoir was created by blocking the Hartshay Brook and covers about 50 acres, holding around 283 million gallons of water.
In 1875, the Midland Railway extended a railway line over the reservoir using a wooden viaduct. This was later replaced by a stone causeway in the 1930s.
Butterley Reservoir has changed over the years, thanks to the efforts of the Angling Club and their maintenance team.
The reservoir is split into two sections by the railway that goes through it, creating two different fishing spots. Anglers who explore the shallow areas in summer can find good fishing spots, while in colder months, fishing along the dam wall in deeper water is popular.