The Dam Busters Dams

Michael Fawdry wrote:

There are 3 dams linked in steps going from the higher Howden Dam to the Derwent Dam and then the lowest, the Ladybower Dam. Both the Howden and Derwent are identical, turreted, stone-built dams from early in the 20th century, with the Ladybower, an earthen dam, only being completed towards the end of WW2 and opened in 1945 by King George V1 and Queen Elizabeth. 

When the Ladybower was constructed, the two picturesque villages of Derwent and Ashopton were submerged following removal of graves and demolition of most of the buildings, the exception being that the tower of the Derwent Village church was left as a monument, the bulk of which showed above high water level. This was demolished in the early 1950’s. 
On either bank on the water side of Derwent Dam, just by the wall, remain two large concrete blocks used for torpedo nets.

Michael reminisces:

As senior schoolboys, my friend and I visited Derwent Dam almost every Sunday in the late 1950’s (travelling by tandem!). For years there was always a ‘Trojan’ van by the Western tower of the Derwent Dam, converted to a tea van; on a mudguard was painted ‘Desert Rat’, and yes, the proprietor had been in the unit and told some interesting stories.
On one of those Sundays, long ago, we were standing on the Eastern Derwent wall admiring the views (the Western one was always closed, but you could walk right up to the tower on the Eastern walk-way back then).  Out of the blue came an elderly gentleman in a bowler hat, he reminded me of Sir Edward Elgar. After the usual pleasantries he began a conversation by asking “Do you know who I am?” ” No Sir.” was our reply. ” I’m Major Ball, I was in charge of the defences of these dams during the war.”  It was he who pointed out the torpedo net structures and other facts about the dams. 
You’ll be aware of the fly-over by the Lancaster bomber on anniversaries of the raid. There was no such event for years after the war, but now a plaque has been placed about the dam’s association with the raid and the event attracts hundreds.