The lake which flooded an entire valley of villages and farmland

2 hours ago

Dan Ayersat Chew Valley Lake

News image — Construction of Chew Valley Lake in North East Somerset began in the 1950s

Bristol Water A black and white photo of four men working on some brick work by the edge of the water. They have flat-caps on and are dressed smartly in wellies and dark clothing. You can see the wall of the edge of Chew Valley gradually being built with the water tower in the background. — Construction of Chew Valley Lake in North East Somerset began in the 1950s

Seventy years ago, Queen Elizabeth II unveiled a plaque at the brand new lake in the rural area of North East Somerset. Chew Valley Lake was open for business.

The need for new drinking water had grown in the nearby city of Bristol and the decision was taken to flood a whole valley to make way for the reservoir.

Farmland, villages, homes and even a church disappeared. Seven decades later, the 1,200 acre lake continues to supply Bristol and the surrounding Mendip Hills. It has a capacity of 20 billion litres of water, according to its owners Bristol Water.

Chew Valley is not just a lake. It is used for walking, angling, sailing and birdwatching - but history occasionally does remind us that this area was once made up of fields and settlements that date back thousands of years.

PA Media Aerial shot of a half empty lake. You can see very little water towards the edge of the lake and old roads and a bridge that are usually underwater. — Low water levels during a heatwave in 2025 meant some older lanes and a bridge were once again visible

Robin Cade, from the Chew Valley Local History Society, said: "It was a beautiful valley with a lot of dairy and mixed farms on it, but a natural place to dam and create a store for water for the people of Bristol.

"You've got to remember at the time... the population was growing. They needed more water."

Chew Valley Lake at 70 years old

The idea for the lake first came about in the 1930s and, after various battles and eventually an act of Parliament, construction started in November 1950.

Cade said it took years to get approved because of a "lack of money" and World War Two.

Bristol Water Old aerial black and white photograph. It has farmland, fields and trees. There is a white dotted line around where the Lake was proposed to go. — The original plan to flood the Chew Valley area seen here in an aerial photograph taken before the lake

The huge new lake was created by the damming of the River Chew and flooding farmland, villages and settlements which dated back to the Neolithic Ages.

Settlements such as Moreton, Chew Park, St Cross Nunnery and Ben Bridge were demolished to pave the way for water. There were also 5,000 trees and 70 miles of hedgerows cleared.

Cade said: "I think it was really heartbreaking for the farmers. Many of them have been here for generations."

Bristol Water A colour, digitalised image of the late Queen Elizabeth II in a blue, turquoise coat. She is looking at the plaque she's just unveiled saying 'Chew Valley Lake'. She is stood with her husband, Prince Philip, who is stood behind her in a dark, navy suit and tie. There is a man in a suit talking to them and showing the late Queen and Prince Philip the surroundings. There are flags in the background. — Queen Elizabeth II opened Chew Valley Lake in April 1956 with her husband the Duke of Edinburgh

Bristol Water Black and white shot of the late Queen Elizabeth II talking to dignitaries in suits. There are crowds of people in the background. — Locals remember the opening of the lake as a "golden day"

17 April 1956 was called a "golden day" for the Chew Valley as Queen Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh opened the lake.

Cade said: "It was certainly a big moment for the people of the Chew Valley and people who attended that day still remember it fondly.

"It was the first and for many the only time they saw Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. It was a remarkable day for locals, called a golden day."

Man in green jumper stood in front of the water at Chew Valley Lake. He is bald and looking at the camera. — Robin Cade is part of the Chew Valley Local History Society and says the area is "steeped in history"

There have been some reminders of the history of the former valley and its past, especially during the recent hot summers of 2022 and 2025.

The former Ben Bridge area and village Moreton was revealed as the reservoir's water levels dropped to lower than 35% capacity.

There has also always been rumours that when the water is low, you can see the spire of a former church underwater. But Cade disputes this.

"I've never come across the church spire that's so called underneath it and I didn't see it last year in the drought. I think most of the buildings were taken or demolished," Cade added.

Getty/Matt Cardy Bridge in empty lake. There is a trickle of water going through it because of a drought. Usually this would be full of water. — Roads and settlements were flooded to create the lake more than 70 years ago and are occasionally visible

The history of Chew Valley Lake is just one part of the area's story, as flooding an entire valley opened up new areas for wildlife.

"It's become a wildlife corridor," said Stewart McCarthy-Thompson, from Avon Wildlife Trust.

"It's an iconic landmark in the landscape. Originally set up to meet our water needs, now a haven for nature.

"It's nestled between lots of sites for nature, 260-270 bird species have been recorded there as nature find its way," McCarthy-Thompson added.

Man with a big-long lens camera pointing at the lake in the distance. — The area is known as a "wildlife corridor" where birdwatchers often go to spot nature

There are five to six bird hides, with the area designated as a Site of Nature Conservation Importance as well as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

McCarthy-Thompson said: "If you're new to nature, [it is] fantastic for birdwatching and a great site to start nature watching at all ages.

"It's quite shallow in some areas, so it exposes the muddy area for wading birds. Its volume of water is a lot less to other reservoirs."

The lake is run by Bristol Water, which says it is a "big part" of its infrastructure with the company taking 40 to 50 million litres every day from Chew Valley Lake.

Although, it added there is "growing demand" for drinking water and so it is hoped a second reservoir will be built at Cheddar.

Getty/Colin Peachy Aerial, drone footage of the lake from the air. There is a road where the lake ends with the dam. There are lots of green fields and farmland in the background. — Chew Valley Lake is still providing water 70 years after it was created

Ralph Ledbetter, from South West Water, said creating Chew Valley Lake was a "necessity" at the time to improve water quality.

Ledbetter said: "In 1933-34, there was a widespread drought and the water companies and authorities at the time recognised something needed to be done.

"They wanted to capture more water that was falling on the Mendip Hills, and Chew Valley was the natural site identified.

"Chew Valley Lake is about half of all the storage we have in the Bristol area and it is really important."

Seventy years on, Chew Valley Lake is still just as important to when it opened in 1956.

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