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Hurstwood Reservoir Undulating Hills
Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2025 8:10 am
by The Shire Claret
Hi fellow Clarets
I’ve walked up there many times now, sometimes get to Widdop but always wondered why the adjacent hills are so bumpy ?
I’m not originally from Burnley so thought someone would know why ?
Ta !
Re: Hurstwood Reservoir Undulating Hills
Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2025 8:12 am
by Rowls
Limestone mining?
Re: Hurstwood Reservoir Undulating Hills
Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2025 8:16 am
by Crookedbillet
I think it's everything they dug out to create the reservoir !?
Re: Hurstwood Reservoir Undulating Hills
Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2025 8:19 am
by Dark Cloud
Much of the moorland landscape around Burnley and Rossendalle isn't the "unspoilt" countryside we imagine. It's was dug and quarried for stone and other minerals on a large scale for several hundred years and although the dips and the spoil heaps have now largely grassed over, there was obviously never any attempt to return the landscape to how it was. It was simply abandoned and they moved to the next site. This has left the skyline and the landscape littered with undulations, some big and some small, but it's all part of our industrial past.
Re: Hurstwood Reservoir Undulating Hills
Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2025 8:48 am
by ICL
As Rowls has said, the mining was for Limestone using the technique of Hushing.
In south-eastern Lancashire hushing was used to extract limestone from the glacial boulder clay so that it could be used to make lime for agriculture, mortar, plaster and limewash. Bennett notes leases of land for this purpose in the 17th and 18th centuries[5] and remains can still be seen at sites like Shedden Clough. Hushing for limestone seems to have been limited to the eastern side of the Pennine ridge, between Burnley and the Cliviger Gorge, and probably occurred here because of the cost of obtaining supplies from further away, as well as the suitability of the boulder clay and the availability of water supplies.
Re: Hurstwood Reservoir Undulating Hills
Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2025 8:59 am
by Claretnick
Whilst industrial activity has played its part could some of these egg-shaped hills (drumlins) be evidence of the last ice age, when this whole area was covered with ice and glaciers.
Re: Hurstwood Reservoir Undulating Hills
Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2025 10:06 am
by gwills18
They are from when the reservoir was built, it was the dirt they moved.
The flat part (at the side of the res) is from where the railway used to be, they used that to bring goods and materials to and from the reservoir when it was being built.
Re: Hurstwood Reservoir Undulating Hills
Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2025 10:09 am
by Hendrickxz
I haven't been for years, but the Pack Horse pub used to have a collection of fascinating photos of the reserviors under construction, together with shots of the old railway. No idea if they are still there though.
Re: Hurstwood Reservoir Undulating Hills
Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2025 10:19 am
by Hendrickxz
Hells bells, just looked up the Pack Horse to find that it is permanently closed. Another of my former haunts fallen by the wayside!
Re: Hurstwood Reservoir Undulating Hills
Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2025 10:58 am
by Bfc
Shire Claret, if you were to walk the path along past the outlet of Can’t Clough Res and through the cattle gate , it will lead you to the Windmills car park on the Kebs Rd. In the dip on the route, there’s a information board, giving a brief history of the Lime Kiln workings and nearby are more of the mounds from the workings. Also on that path, there’s a little known route that leads you back towards Hurstwood village, which is an enjoyable shorter walk you may consider. But know the route before setting off.
Re the pictures of the Res construction, I think lots of the photos can be seen on the Burnley Historical site and having seen them, they’re very interesting to enjoy and if you take note of the detail, even more so. Those workmen having to endure those conditions working and living up there in winter is unbelievable.
Re: Hurstwood Reservoir Undulating Hills
Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2025 11:02 am
by giveusaB
Burnley civic trust has information & pictures regarding the history and building of Hurstwood reservoir.
https://www.bcthic.org/Archive/Other_Co ... Collection
Re: Hurstwood Reservoir Undulating Hills
Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2025 11:02 am
by Bfc
Cant Clough Res. Predictive text rrr
Re: Hurstwood Reservoir Undulating Hills
Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2025 11:12 am
by The Shire Claret
Bfc wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 10:58 am
Shire Claret, if you were to walk the path along past the outlet of Can’t Clough Res and through the cattle gate , it will lead you to the Windmills car park on the Kebs Rd. In the dip on the route, there’s a information board, giving a brief history of the Lime Kiln workings and nearby are more of the mounds from the workings. Also on that path, there’s a little known route that leads you back towards Hurstwood village, which is an enjoyable shorter walk you may consider. But know the route before setting off.
Re the pictures of the Res construction, I think lots of the photos can be seen on the Burnley Historical site and having seen them, they’re very interesting to enjoy and if you take note of the detail, even more so. Those workmen having to endure those conditions working and living up there in winter is unbelievable.
That is very helpful thank you for this and although I have walked up to that cattle-gate at can't clough I have never gone through it and ventured that way so good to know where it leads.
I've had a good look on google maps and looks like me and the dog will be busy exploring that way out whilst we have the weather - Thanks again
Re: Hurstwood Reservoir Undulating Hills
Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2025 11:13 am
by The Shire Claret
As I thought - this would be really helpful so thank you very much for all the information !
Re: Hurstwood Reservoir Undulating Hills
Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2025 11:29 am
by Passing Clouds
I see there’s a reference to Heckenhurst res in that article. Used to swim and fish in the 3 reservoirs there, biggie and 2 littlies I remember ha ha. Think it’s housing now…
Re: Hurstwood Reservoir Undulating Hills
Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2025 12:17 pm
by Claret Till I Die
Passing Clouds wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 11:29 am
I see there’s a reference to Heckenhurst res in that article. Used to swim and fish in the 3 reservoirs there, biggie and 2 littlies I remember ha ha. Think it’s housing now…
It was filled in years ago and as you say there are currently houses being built there
Re: Hurstwood Reservoir Undulating Hills
Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2025 12:39 pm
by SlidingTackle
ICL wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 8:48 am
As Rowls has said, the mining was for Limestone using the technique of Hushing.
In south-eastern Lancashire hushing was used to extract limestone from the glacial boulder clay so that it could be used to make lime for agriculture, mortar, plaster and limewash. Bennett notes leases of land for this purpose in the 17th and 18th centuries[5] and remains can still be seen at sites like Shedden Clough. Hushing for limestone seems to have been limited to the eastern side of the Pennine ridge, between Burnley and the Cliviger Gorge, and probably occurred here because of the cost of obtaining supplies from further away, as well as the suitability of the boulder clay and the availability of water supplies.
This. Same at the top of Thursden.
Re: Hurstwood Reservoir Undulating Hills
Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2025 12:44 pm
by Passing Clouds
Yup. Think I know who you are CTID by the way. Pretty sure we used to kick about in the back field
Re: Hurstwood Reservoir Undulating Hills
Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2025 12:51 pm
by Claret Till I Die
Passing Clouds wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 12:44 pm
Yup. Think I know who you are CTID by the way. Pretty sure we used to kick about in the back field
Quite possible. I'm the eldest of 3
Re: Hurstwood Reservoir Undulating Hills
Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2025 12:58 pm
by Passing Clouds
Goldfield?
Ha ha being cryptic!
Re: Hurstwood Reservoir Undulating Hills
Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2025 1:07 pm
by Claret Till I Die
Passing Clouds wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 12:58 pm
Goldfield?
Ha ha being cryptic!
Me cryptic? It's Darren, Thought many on here knew who I was.
Re: Hurstwood Reservoir Undulating Hills
Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2025 1:08 pm
by Volvoclaret
As Rowls has mentioned, limestone hushing took place all around what is now the windmill car park. Many years ago I was part of a group who worked with an archaeologist and surveyor to map out the hushings, details of which are on the info board
Re: Hurstwood Reservoir Undulating Hills
Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2025 1:21 pm
by Passing Clouds
Claret Till I Die wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 1:07 pm
Me cryptic? It's Darren, Thought many on here knew who I was.
I more meant me being cryptic. Is it Chuck or is that your brother?
Or am I wrong ha ha
Either way - all the best! Clogging up the Hurstwood Res thread
Re: Hurstwood Reservoir Undulating Hills
Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2025 1:24 pm
by Claret Till I Die
Passing Clouds wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 1:21 pm
I more meant me being cryptic. Is it Chuck or is that your brother?
Or am I wrong ha ha
Either way - all the best! Clogging up the Hurstwood Res thread
That's my youngest brother..
Re: Hurstwood Reservoir Undulating Hills
Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2025 1:26 pm
by Leon_C
I've looked this up previously, it's a quite fascinating landscape (if you like that kind of stuff.)
https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by ... ht=BingHyb
If this resource is new to you, you may find it quite interesting.
Re: Hurstwood Reservoir Undulating Hills
Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2025 1:30 pm
by Passing Clouds
Re: Hurstwood Reservoir Undulating Hills
Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2025 1:38 pm
by The Shire Claret
That is an absolutely Phenomenal website - I could spend hours on that
Re: Hurstwood Reservoir Undulating Hills
Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2025 8:12 pm
by Leon_C
The Shire Claret wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 1:38 pm
That is an absolutely Phenomenal website - I could spend hours on that
I do just that
Re: Hurstwood Reservoir Undulating Hills
Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2025 8:28 pm
by yTib
i discovered that dual historic/modern map website some months ago and it is massively addictive, especially for someone like me who has lived all over the borough and all over england.
Re: Hurstwood Reservoir Undulating Hills
Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2025 9:02 pm
by Orangebernard
Claret Till I Die wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 12:17 pm
It was filled in years ago and as you say there are currently houses being built there
And don’t I know it. They are building right behind my house and thereby completely blocking our fantastic view of Pendle. I know it sounds a bit NIMBY but it’s really rather depressing to have had an uninterrupted view with nothing but fields and livestock behind our house to now staring at the back of several enormous houses.
Re: Hurstwood Reservoir Undulating Hills
Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2025 9:13 pm
by Claret Till I Die
Orangebernard wrote: ↑Tue Jul 22, 2025 9:02 pm
And don’t I know it. They are building right behind my house and thereby completely blocking our fantastic view of Pendle. I know it sounds a bit NIMBY but it’s really rather depressing to have had an uninterrupted view with nothing but fields and livestock behind our house to now staring at the back of several enormous houses.
I remember asking for help a few years ago when planning was put in for a couple of houses across from me. Not one person apart from the immediate area around us could be bothered to put a complaint in and they were passed. I'm sorry to say that they set the precedent for the rest of the village.