Working at Scar House

 

Working on the reservoir was dangerous and conditions were tough. Safety equipment was non existent and accidents regularly happened.

 

Photo: Quarrymen at Scar (courtesy of Nidderdale Museum)

 

Photo: Scar House quarry railway (courtesy of Nidderdale Museum)

Quarries
Stone to build Scar House Reservoir was extracted from quarries dotted around the hillsides. Workers used steel rods and hammers to separate the rocks from the quarry face although explosives were also used. 

Gravity Railway System
A special gravity system allowed train trucks to bring the stone down from the quarries to the reservoir. The trucks were connected to a steel cable and winding engines in the quarry. As one truck came down the hillside full of stone, the other truck went back up to the quarry ready to be re-filled.


All images are copyright Nidderdale Museum.