Jumbles Reservoir

Set in Jumbles Country Park, the Jumbles reservoir was completed in 1970 and is probably the most popular of the local reservoirs - especially with people from the Bolton area. Whether this is due to it’s locality or perhaps it was given publicity during planning or on completion - or maybe it’s just because there’s a train station and a pub.

In my lifetime the Jumbles has always seemed busy and was at one-time quite littered with rubbish both in and out of the water. The place seems much nicer now and the Jumbles does have a few very interesting features that tempt me to visit.

The reservoir was constructed in the Bradshaw valley, below the reservoirs of Turton and Entwistle and Wayoh and was built to provide compensation to the Bradshaw Brook that has had water removed for drinking by the other two reservoirs - Wayoh being built to compensate for Turton and Entwistle in turn.

The construction of Jumbles reservoir caused the demolition of a few historic, local buildings including the old Horrobin Mills of which several old mill ponds and water channels can still be seen.

The most interesting feature for me at Jumbles is now almost forgotten as it lies beyond some very boggy ground where a broken old viewing platform can be found. Up behind the old Jumbles quarry is a 3 metre plus impression of a 300 million year old fossil, probably Calamites. Missed by many people today and perhaps for the best to preserve the fossil.

Created: 13  May  2019  Edited: 29  November  2023