Paper clipping from The John Dobson Collection
16 December 1900
Last Updated: 12 August 2013
Comment:
From about 1850 flood water pumped from the haematite mines around Lindal in Furness flowed to Urswick Tarn via a large underground drain constructed from stone. This water had a significant content of solids including haematite and accompanying heavy metals and this severely polluted the tarn and caused major problems of sedimentation in Gleaston Beck which drains the tarn to Morecambe Bay. This sedimentary burden now remains at the bottom of the tarn and at one location where a core sample was taken it was found to be over 2 metres thick resting on top of the natural pre-1850s organic sediments.