The Haunting Secrets of the Drowned Derwent Valley

Ghosts of the Drowned Derwent Valley - Ladybower Reservoir

Deep in the heart of the Peak District, Ladybower Reservoir hides one of Britain’s most haunting stories. Beneath its calm blue surface lie the remains of two villages — Derwent and Ashopton — once thriving communities that were evacuated, demolished, and finally submerged to make way for one of the UK’s most important post-war water projects.

Ashopton Village
Once home to a post office, smithy, mill, and the well-known Ashopton Inn, this rural village was the first to be cleared. Its church, St. John’s, held an emotional final service before being dismantled stone by stone. Today, nothing remains above the water — only the Ashopton Viaduct marks the village’s former location.

Derwent Village
Larger and centuries older, Derwent had a school, post office, farms, cottages, and the striking St. John the Baptist Church. Its spire famously rose from the water for several years before being demolished in 1947. In drought years, the village’s foundations reappear, drawing thousands of visitors to the valley.

Ladybower Today
A peaceful reservoir visited by millions each year, Ladybower is now a place of reflection — a beautiful landscape shaped by engineering ambition, but forever tied to the memories of the people who once called the valley home.

Soundtrack by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

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