Roughrigg

55°51′19.2″N 3°54′06.4″W / 55.855333°N 3.901778°W / 55.855333; -3.901778

Roughrigg is a reservoir in North Lanarkshire.[1][2] The reservoir itself is some 137 acres in extent.[3] The reservoir is located about 3 miles (4.8 km) east of Airdrie.[4]

History

Archeological evidence from Roughrigg includes several prehistoric flints.[5][6]

The reservoir was built between 1846 and 1849 to supply local drinking water to the populations of Airdrie and Coatbridge and to feed the Monkland Canal.[7][2][8] It subsequently passed into the care of Scottish Water.[2] For drinking water, the facility used a micro straining plant (mechnical filtration) that was installed in the 1950s.[4][9] In 1960, the reservoir was recorded as having 558 million gallons of water storage.[7]

In early 2021, Scottish Water launched a consultation on a proposal to drain the reservoir and replant it as woodland as it was no longer being used by them to supply water and the dam was at high risk of failure.[10] In March 2021, the consultation closed.[3] In June 2021, Scottish Water announced that following the consultation it would retain the reservoir site and improve the infrastructure.[11][12]

Leisure Use

A local fishing club, the Roughrigg Angling Association has been at the site since the late 1990s.[12] Fish at the site included brown trout and rainbow trout.[13] The site is also used by walkers and other leisure users.

References

  1. ^ "Monkland Canal, Roughrigg Reservoir". trove.scot. 2002-02-21. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  2. ^ a b c "Roughrigg Reservoir from The Gazetteer for Scotland". Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  3. ^ a b Tonner, Judith (2021-03-18). "Closing date for Roughrigg reservoir consultation". Daily Record. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  4. ^ a b Civil Engineering and Public Works Review. Lomax, Erskine & Company. 1953. p. 636. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  5. ^ "Roughrigg Reservoir, Airdrie". trove.scot. 1952-10-30. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  6. ^ "Data Catalogue". Archaeology Data Service. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  7. ^ a b Thomson, George (1960). The County of Lanark. Collins. p. 172. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  8. ^ Commons, Great Britain Parliament House of (1876). Reports from Commissioners. UK Government. p. xxxvii. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  9. ^ Municipal Engineering: Sanitary Record and the Municipal Motor. Municipal Engineering Publications. 1952. p. 360. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  10. ^ Tonner, Judith (2021-02-11). "Roughrigg reservoir: consultation on future of "high-risk" water". Daily Record. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  11. ^ Quirie, Craig (2021-06-04). "Reservoir to be retained after locals report mental health benefits". Project Scotland. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  12. ^ a b "Scottish Water To Retain Roughrigg Reservoir". Scottish Construction News. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  13. ^ Sandison, Bruce (2013-06-20). Rivers and Lochs of Scotland 2013/2014 Edition: The Angler's Complete Guide. Black & White Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84502-712-4. Retrieved 2025-11-26.