Eccleston Delph has been known as the Eccy Delph, or Hurst House Delph for the last century, and was mined by 12 local quarrymen producing stone for Blackpool Promenade for thin slates to cover the local barns and roofs.

The Family of "Hurst" who originally owned and worked the Quarry, were well known in the area as Mr Hurst was Chairman of the Parish Council of Heskin for 20 years. Some time later it also became known as Marsden's Quarry, although that reference is a little uncertain.

Nature Fights Back

At approximately 90 feet (30 metres) below ground level the quarrying became to difficult because the natural spring was filling the hole faster than the mill winding pumps could clear it. Becoming less and less profitable it was abandoned and eventually left to fill up with water, becoming what was considered a natural beauty spot.

1990's and 80's

Neil Smitham, Chairman of the Trafford Sub-Aqua Club has kindly given us permission to share these pictures.

Taken in the early 90's, a group from the club on the beach.

Taken 8/4/95 in the early evening.

They dived for 43 mins in a three to a depth of 9.5 meters and vis was a max of 3ft!!

Walking on water

These two were taken in the 1980's

The Handless Corpse

October 15, 1979

Eccleston Delph, a flooded quarry in the heart of Lancashire, was never meant to reveal it's gruesome secret. But the body of Martin Johnstone never hit the bottom. The naked, mutilated corpse was found by amateur scuba divers.» Read More