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Ulley Reservoir
Ulley Sailing Club operates on a former reservoir that was built to supply the rapidly expanding town of Rotherham with good quality, clean, and unpolluted water in the 1870s. Originally two streams flowed swiftly between the meadows grazed by farm animals in steep-sided valleys.
Filter beds and a dam were built to store the water which flowed by gravity to the town.
As Rotherham continued to expand the supply became inadequate and water was obtained from the larger reservoirs around the Sheffield area. Ulley became a reserve supply in the 1920’s but was brought back to life during the 1939-45 war because of the large quantities of water required by the steel industry making supplies for the war effort. Ulley became a standby location in case any damage was caused to the main water supplies in the area as a result of bombing.
After the war it was again placed in reserve and later the possibility of the site becoming a public amenity and sporting facility was considered. Initially there was limited fishing and sailing.
In 1972 Ulley Sailing Club was formed with boats stored along the bank. A new clubhouse was built and the club moved out of some old huts.
In 1986 the site which had been purchased by Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council from Yorkshire Water, was opened to the public as Ulley Country Park.
Torrential rains on 25 June 2007 caused major flooding throughout South Yorkshire. On the night of 25/26 June engineers found that the force of water coming down the spillway from Ulley Reservoir had undermined the earth embankment and almost breached the dam. Engineers and firemen worked through the night to try and make it safe, whilst people were evacuated from villages in the potential flood path, the M1 was closed and attempts were made to protect the electricity substation at Brinsworth.
Following the flooding Ulley Reservoir has now had a new spill way installed to give the Dam a new lease of life. The construction is due to finish in the Spring of 2010 and the park will reopen to the public sometime in the summer.
Throughout this time Ulley Sailing Club has remained in operation with the minimum amount of time off the water and it remains one of the best clubs in the region. The Club is a friendly place that caters for all ages and has produced many well known sailors, some of world class.
If you wish to know more about the history of the site there is a book, “The Story of Ulley Country Park” by Russell Howes, available from the Park or local shops. You will soon be able to visit the new web-site of the Friends of Ulley Country Park.
