The North Devon Water Board Collection

In 1935 the Government commissioned an inquiry into the state of the country’s water resources. Its report in 1938 describes serious problems due to an increasing population, the demands of industry and ever more attention to hygiene and health. The situation in Devon was in a dire state. Village supplies were failing; farms were unable to acquire accreditation for milk production and water quality in 44% of schools in North Devon failed a quality test.

The 2nd World War brought planning to a standstill but in 1945 work recommenced. Under the 1 January 1946 Act of Parliament, Devon County Council divided up the county into three main areas with the North Devon area being defined roughly as west of the R. Exe and north of an east / west line through the centre of Dartmoor. By area The North Devon Water Board was the largest in the country. West Devon was a problem area as the geology does not enable the construction of reservoirs. Water had to be acquired elsewhere and piped to its point of use. Using Dartmoor’s rainfall was the only option. Unfortunately, the long range of hills on the Moor’s northwest border prevented the flow of water from any of the rivers that rise on the high ground beyond.

Devon County Councillor, Mr Ormsby Allhusen, who was the Chair of the Council’s Public Health and Housing Committee, was appointed to chair the North Devon Water Board, a position he held until 1963. Ormsby Allhusen had some experience of providing a water supply to Lyme Regis using hydraulic rams to pump water to the high ground from where water was piped to houses.

The Duchy of Cornwall agreed to permit the Water Board to use its land for the Water Works and creation of a small enclosed weir on the West Okement River SX560898. A ten foot diameter tunnel, 52 feet under the Moor containing huge pipes and a walkway was built to bring water from the West Okement River to the Prewley Water Treatment Works SX548908 from where by 1960 water was piped to 81 villages and 2,400 remote farms within an area of 1,300 square miles.

Development of housing, growth of tourism and industrial development required more water, so by the 1970s it was decided to build Meldon Reservoir. The tunnel remains in use, now conveying water from the Meldon Reservoir to the Prewley Water Treatment Works.

These photographs record the construction and the day on which the Princess Royal formally opened the tunnel and treatment works on 28 June 1952.

The Trust is grateful to Ormsby Allhusen’s son, Edward, for providing the photographs and the notes on each.