{{Short description|Reservoir on the River Bann in Northern Ireland}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox body of water | name = Spelga Reservoir | image =Mourne mountains spelga reservoir.jpg | caption = |pushpin_map=County Down | image_bathymetry = | caption_bathymetry = | location = County Down, Northern Ireland | coords = {{coord|54|10|25|N|6|3|38|W|type:waterbody_region:GB|display=inline,title}} | type = reservoir | inflow = | outflow = | catchment = {{convert|1340|acre|km2|abbr=on}} | basin_countries = United Kingdom | length = | width = | area = | depth = | max-depth = | volume = {{convert|600|e6impgal|m3|abbr=on}} | residence_time = | shore = | elevation = ~ {{convert|1200|ft|abbr=on}} | islands = none | cities = }}
'''Spelga Reservoir''' is a reservoir in the townland of Spelga ({{irish place name|Speilgeach|abounding in pointed rocks}}) in the Mourne Mountains of County Down, Northern Ireland. It was formed by the Spelga Dam and sits at over {{convert|1200|ft|m|abbr=on}} above sea level. It has a volume of 2,700,000 cubic metres and a catchment area of 5.423 km<sup>2</sup>. It occupies an area known as Deers Meadow, and impounds the River Bann, which rises on the nearby Slieve Muck.
==Construction==
The reservoir and dam were built as part of a project that had origins in the idea of supplying water to Belfast, in 1894. The Spelga Reservoir itself was developed between 1953 and 1957. As part of the construction, the B27 road was rebuilt above the reservoir to replace the original road submerged by the construction.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://archives.tcm.ie/newrydemocrat/2006/04/05/story5487.asp|title = Newry & Mourne - The pet lamb|date = April 2006|access-date = 23 September 2008|publisher = Newry Democrat (online archives)|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110622090309/http://archives.tcm.ie/newrydemocrat/2006/04/05/story5487.asp|archive-date = 22 June 2011}}</ref> The Dam was designed by the Belfast engineering firm of R. Ferguson and S. McIlveen and construction was undertaken by John Laing & Sons.<ref>Ritchie, p. 126</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Watterson|first=Simon|title=Spelga Dam and Reservoir|url=http://www.northern-focus.com/places/spelga-dam-and-reservoir/|access-date=14 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141106201709/http://www.northern-focus.com/places/spelga-dam-and-reservoir/|archive-date=6 November 2014|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
Prior to the construction of the reservoir, archaeological excavation was carried out and three groups of transhumant buildings, or booley huts, were identified. Some of the structures were dated to the eighteenth century, but it is thought that the site had been used since pre-historic times due to the presence of flint flakes.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Rathbone |first=Stuart |date=2010 |title=Transhumant Structures at Deer's Meadow Hut Group C, Stang, County Down |url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/41940978 |journal=Ulster Journal of Archaeology |volume=69 |pages=150–154|jstor=41940978 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Evans |first=E. Estyn |title=Mourne Country, Landscape and Life in South Down, fourth edition |publisher=Dundalgan Press (W. Tempest) Ltd. |year=1989 |pages=134–136}}</ref>
==Use== The Portadown and Banbridge areas receive their water supply from the reservoir. Whilst it has not been stocked with fish for some years, it is home to wild pike and trout.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mourne-mountains.com/mournes/water/spelga-dam-reservoir/# |title=Mourne Mountains.com |access-date=2017-08-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809221259/http://www.mourne-mountains.com/mournes/water/spelga-dam-reservoir/# |archive-date=2017-08-09 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2018<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-politics-44767269|title=Heatwave uncovers submerged Mourne history|last=McDowell|first=Iain|date=2018-07-11|work=BBC News|access-date=2018-07-12|language=en-GB}}</ref> and again in 2020,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/health/coronavirus/ni-waters-warning-over-shortages-as-demand-outstrips-supply-in-covid-19-lockdown-39248321.html|title=NI Water's warning over shortages as demand outstrips supply in Covid-19 lockdown|date=2020-05-31|work=Belfast Telegraph|access-date=2020-06-15|language=en-GB}}</ref> heatwaves and dry weather caused the water level to drop. This exposed a portion of the original road through the Deers Meadow, including a bridge which was formerly the first bridge on the River Bann.
<gallery> File:Spelga Dam, old road and bridge - geograph.org.uk - 645608.jpg|The old bridge and road, exposed during low water levels. File:Spelga Dam - geograph.org.uk - 403286.jpg|Spelga Dam </gallery>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==Sources== * {{cite book|first=Berry|last=Ritchie|title=The Good Builder: The John Laing Story|publisher=James & James|year=1997}}
==External links== * [http://www.rhmayne.co.uk/Northern%20Ireland/pages/Spelga%20Dam_info.htm Robert's Photo Gallery] * [https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-spelga-dam-1960-online BFI archive film of the dam's construction]
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Category:Northern Ireland coast and countryside Category:Reservoirs in County Down Category:Tourist attractions in County Down