Burnbanks

A book I skimmed through whilst having lunch in the cafe at Bampton.  It tells the story of Haweswater reservoir, the people involved in the construction and what became of the construction village (Burnbanks).

Earlier it had been typical for construction workers and labourers on big civil engineering projects to live in rough and unsafe shanty towns (eg Ribblehead viaduct; Blackwater reservoir).  Conditions were poor (H&S hadn't been invented, never mind gone mad) and many workers died.

Manchester Corporation decided to build decent cottages that would not only house the workers but also their families, complete with the infrastructure needed for a living community.   

More recently many old cottages have been upgraded and renovated to provide quality housing for locals.