Hodbarrow sea wall

Millom, United Kingdom (GB)

More than 300 miners worked the rich deposits discovered in 1868, and mining continued until the 1960's. As the sea encroached on the mines, it was necessary to build a breakwater to protect the workings. Built of sandstone blocks covered with tar (replaced by concrete, clay, and stone in 1900), the seawall was up to 50 feet high in some places. Little remains of the former industry, and the area is now a holiday village offering water sports.

Hodbarrow sea wall

Millom, United Kingdom (GB)

Hodbarrow sea wall is a tidal barrier protecting former Millom Iron Works. It flooded when pumping stopped in the 1960’s and formed an enclosed lagoon.

Originally named Holborn Hill, Millom grew from a small fishing village into a town as a result of the steel industry and the haematite iron ore mining at nearby Hodbarrow, now an R.S.P.B. nature reserve.

More than 300 miners worked the rich deposits discovered in 1868, and mining continued until the 1960's. As the sea encroached on the mines, it was necessary to build a breakwater to protect the workings. Built of sandstone blocks covered with tar (replaced by concrete, clay, and stone in 1900), the seawall was up to 50 feet high in some places. Little remains of the former industry, and the area is now a holiday village offering water sports.

Parks
Links: www.thecumbriadirectory.com
By: kjfitz

Nearby:

Big Plug!

Westland Whirlwind HAS.7

Haverigg Prison

RAF Millom (closed)

Horse and rider

Askam and Ireleth Wind Farm

Direction arrow on ground for flying aircraft

Dalton Castle

RAF Walney Island (closed)

Furness Abbey

Holker Street

Bow Bridge

Comments

pmailkeey

@ 2013-08-17 16:44:10

The 'Outer Barrier' which now contains the 'lagoon' is in fact the third such barrier. Near the middle of the lagoon can be seen an earlier barrier which collapsed shortly after completion due to the mining activity beneath. The first barrier was simply wooden and was constructed just inland of the second barrier and approximately following the natural coastline. These barriers were built to protect the iron ore 'hematite' mines at Hodbarrow. Many shafts were sunk to access the exceptional quality ore which was found predominantly under what is now the lagoon.

Millom's ironworks was just that. No steel was made here - simply processing the ore into pig iron. This local industrial past forms a significant part of the displays in The local museum situated on the railway station. Info on the station can be found here: https://sites.google.com/site/millomweb/station including a link to museum information - including its current name!