Catcleugh Reservoir was built at the beginning of the 20th century for the Newcastle and Gateshead Water Company. Work started here in 1899 by T and C Hawksley and was completed in 1905. The dam is built of earth with a core of puddle clay and is stone faced on the water side. The overflow at the south end of the dam runs under a bridge and nearby is a valve house and gauge house. The dam was built by labourers who lived in a camp downstream and remains of one of the houses can be visited today. Some of these buildings and structures around the dam are Grade II Listed Buildings protected by law.