Prince George about to unveil a commemorative bronze plaque
for the opening of the reservoir.An important part of building the reservoir,was
to build it's own railway system from Tosside to the Reservoir.In all there
was over thirteen miles of track and cost The Flyde Water Board £90,000.At
the peak of the building over 500 men worked there and most of them lived
in a temporary 'village' for the workmen and their families called Hollins.The
standard wage being £2.25 a week.After board and lodging most of the
workmen spent their money on beer,though spirts were banned.If anybody got
too drunk they were put in the 'cooler' for the night.Which was a covered
railway wagon.Graham Johnson said in 1976,'The town that grew up at Hollins.....may
have been the last word in industrial relations in the 20's,but by todays
counterparts...would have mistaken it for a Siberian work camp....The men
of Stocks thought themselves lucky to have a cinema showing silent films,a
canteen selling anything from a packet of pins to a side of beef,a recreation
room with billards and limited cottage acommodation for wives and families.'