Catcleugh Reservoir

The most dramatic impact on the landscape in the immediate environs of Byrness, prior to the creation of the Border Forest in the 20th century, was the construction of Catcleugh Reservoir at the end of the 19th century. This even involved the laying of a narrow gauge railway connecting to the North British Railway's Wansbeck branch (The Wanney) at West Woodburn station.

It left a tangible reminder in the fabric of Byrness itself in the form of the south window of Byrness church, inserted in 1903 to commemorate in stained glass those workers who died during the construction of the reservoir. This is surely the only example of such stained glass to include a narrow gauge steam railway. A bronze plate alongside this window, added in 1904, lists the names of all 64 fatalities.

A single-storey wooden cabin, built c. 1891 to house some of the workers, still stands below the dam. It escaped demolition after construction work finished, being retained in use as an office and tool store, and is the last surviving example of the two shanty towns, 'Newcastle' and 'Gateshead' which faced each other across the Rede.

The seven-roomed cabin was restored in the early 1990s and is now used as the reservoir's visitor centre, with displays depicting living and working conditions, including period interiors and furnishings, original tools and company records (Grundy 1988, 292-3: ROC 9.5; Archaeology in Northumberland 1994-1995, 18).