Geograph - photograph every grid square

The stepped bywash channel takes reservoir flood water from the outflow weir at the south end of the dam NT7402 : Spillway, Catcleugh Reservoir joining with the water carried by the compensation tunnel NT7403 : Compensation water outlet from Catcleugh Reservoir to renew the River Rede below Catcleugh. The curved overlow sill is 310 feet (95m) long and the spillway passes under a five-span masonry bridge which provides access to Chattlehope Farm. The bywash channel reduces in width from 210 feet (64m) to 105 feet (32m) over its 2,050 foot (625m) length NT7402 : Overflow channel, Catcleugh Reservoir. It terminates in the River Rede, below the dam.

Each stone was placed by hand and each course accurately level to provide an even flow of overflow water.

One of the routes taken by the 3 foot gauge railway specially built to move materials around on site, and from West Woodburn Station on the Wansbeck Railway, can be seen as a terrace on the far bank.

"I soon began to take both pleasure and pride in this job as the sandstone, which had been quarried nearby at Chattlehope, was of excellent quality. It was a heavy job though, the huge blocks of stone having to be lowered into place by means of pulleys and cranes."
An account of the works at the Cleugh by Albert Weir, quoted on Rootsweb by Jane Clark, 7th September 2004.