The Old Dam Tower (co-ord : 53.52049, -1.77115)

When the Winscar water level at drops significantly an old structure can become a hazard on the water.

First a quick history lesson to explain why it exists....Dunford Bridge Dam was built in the 1850s and was used to supply water for the River Don and to towns in the Spen Valley.  The height of Dunford Bridge dam was 1,100 feet (340 m), which is some 35 feet (11 m) lower than the present Winscar Reservoir.  The current dam was built in the period 1972-1975 subsuming the original dam to significantly increase the capacity and create Winscar Reservoir, as is now.

The original Dunford Bridge Dam has a tower at the far end of it and when the water level drops by circa 9m this broaches the surface and becomes visible.

The tower should be considered a hazard if the water level drops 7m as measured against the graduated marks below the building next to the dam overflow and will be visible if it drops 9m.

The tower is south east of the headland of Booth Hill (opposite the club house) in the vicinity of mark E at co-ordinates 53.52049, -1.77115.

View from the dam wall looking WNW with mark E, the top of the tower and the graduated marks all visible

Last updated 11:00am on 1 October 2026