Campaigners fighting to save a piece of Marsden’s Victorian heritage have opened an exhibition in the village.
The listed Butterley Spillway is under threat as Yorkshire Water wants to carry out work it says will protect the reservoir embankment.
Campaigners say the work, still awaiting planning consent from Kirklees Council, would destroy a fine architectural feature.
Save Butterley Spillway Group has taken its campaign as far as the House of Commons.
As a result of its investigation work and research the group has amassed a great deal of photographs old and new as well as background history and memories.
That led to the creation of an exhibition which will run throughout September in the gallery space at A Month of Sundaes in Marsden.
The exhibition includes photographs and paintings, poetry by children at Marsden Infants School and audio and written memories of Stella Ainley, daughter of former reservoir keeper Wilfred Doyle.
Group spokesman Diane Ellis said: “The exhibition aims to celebrate the pride, skill and sheer effort of those who designed and built the reservoir and spillway.
“The exhibition will help keep the campaign in the minds of the public and we hope it offers a real focus on what we are trying to preserve.”
The campaign was launched in early 2012 in response to plans by Yorkshire Water to replace the spillway with reinforced concrete as part of safety and improvements works.
Objectors have the support of Marsden-born poet Simon Armitage and Colne Valley Tory MP Jason McCartney.
The construction of Butterley reservoir and spillway was authorised by the Huddersfield Corporation Waterworks Act of 1890.
The first sod was cut on August 27 1891 by Alderman James Crosland, deputy chairman of the waterworks committee. It was completed in 1906.
