The weir across the Netherton burn provided water for a hydro-electric plant in a nearby farm. It was constructed by Lord Armstrong when the site was part of his Cragside Estate in the late nineteenth century. The fish ladder enabled fish to continue up the burn past the weir, but the weir was leaking and the fish pass no longer functioned prior to repairs being carried out in 1999.

    The weir also incorporates an outlet valve and a pressure relief weir, and downstream in the middle of a field there is the remains of a surge chamber. The turbines themselves were taken out some years ago.

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