When the first reservoir (Yeoman Hey c1880) was being planned there was much concern from local mill owners that it would deprive them of essential water. A solution was that a tunnel should be constructed from the confluence of Birchen and Holme Cloughs to the Ashway Gap area where water would continue to flow into Greenfield Brook down a stepped weir and also be collected at a draw-off pipe for use at the mills. The picture below shows the route of the tunnel, obviously, Dove Stone reservoir didn’t exist at that time.
![WEB-TUNNEL-1](https://www.doveheritage.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/WEB-TUNNEL-1.jpg)
The tunnel as it is when dry
![WEB-TUNNEL-3](https://www.doveheritage.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/WEB-TUNNEL-3.jpg)
The tunnel in circa 1990. Note there is no fencing as there is today.
![WEB-flooded-tunnel_edited-1](https://www.doveheritage.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/WEB-flooded-tunnel_edited-1.jpg)
About 8 feet deep with a very strong current as it enters the tunnel
![WEB-$-OTHER-END-OF-TUNNEL](https://www.doveheritage.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/WEB-OTHER-END-OF-TUNNEL.jpg)
The other end of the tunnel when it is in flood – the dark colour is suspended peat in the water. This huge wave effect only happens when the moors are already saturated and heavy rain continues to fall.
In Feb 1990, a tragedy occurred with a youth being swept down the tunnel when it was in flood.
Full details under the 1990s tag.