UK’s ‘lost village’ that disappeared overnight is now mysteriously re-emerging
- UK Hidden Gems
- Nov 11, 2025
- 2 min read
“People come up to me and say how beautiful it is around here. But it’s nothing like it used to be. It’s all man-made now.”
Those are the words of Morris Cottrill, whose family once lived in the village of Derwent before it vanished beneath the water.
Along with its neighbour Ashopton, the peaceful Peak District village of Derwent was deliberately flooded on March 18, 1943.
As the water rose, homes and buildings that had stood since the 17th century were slowly swallowed by the newly formed reservoir.
When it finally filled with 6,310 million gallons of water, only the spire of Derwent’s St John and St James Church remained visible above the surface.
The church held its final service the day before the Chairman of the Derwent Valley Water Board, Alderman Sir Albert Atkey, officially closed the outlet valve and allowed the floodwaters to flow.
Before the flood, the two villages were thriving communities full of life. Derwent Hall, built in 1672, was a grand home once owned by the Duke of Norfolk. Ashopton was larger, with its own post office, coaching inn, chapel, garage, shop, and several farms and cottages.
Despite strong opposition from locals, the Derwent Valley Water Board bought the villages through compulsory purchase between 1935 and 1945. The residents were moved to a new housing estate at Yorkshire Bridge, where 62 homes were built for £65,758.
“The last church service must have been incredibly sad,” said Kathleen Greenan, Chair of the Bamford History Group.
“Those villagers gave up an entire way of life. Most were rehoused in an estate, and it must have been such a change – they were used to being completely self-sufficient.”
Before the water flooded the valley, many of the buildings were demolished and the graves in the churchyards were carefully exhumed and moved elsewhere.
The church spire, which had become the only visible reminder of the lost villages, was eventually demolished in 1947 for safety reasons. Too many people had been swimming out to it, risking their lives to touch what remained.
In the years that followed, the Ladybower Reservoir became a vital water source for the Peak District. To keep up with growing demand, the River Noe was diverted into it, burying the remains of Derwent and Ashopton even deeper beneath the water’s surface.
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