There are two small, stone towers in a field near Grey Heights in Anglezarke that are often the cause of speculation in the minds of passers by. I remember I first encountered them when I was very young, on a walk around Anglezarke reservoir and then once again some years later on a bike ride. I wondered about them for a few years until I found the answer by looking in a slightly wider area.
They are in fact inspection or maintenance “manholes” above a tunnel for the supply of water to a small water treatment works by Crosse Hall Lane and the small Chorley reservoir. I suppose this serves Chorley and if I’m not mistaken the water comes from the High Bullough reservoir on the other side of Anglezarke reservoir and so must pass underneath. There is a “valve” on the shores of the reservoir exactly in line with the two stone towers.
In case you’re wondering there’s a network of tunnels beneath the reservoirs used to move water around, in fact most of the stonework and water channels you see above ground are just overflows for when the water levels get too high by natural weather events.
Why are they constructed in so robust a fashion, and so high above the ground? Just to prevent debris falling from the field above, or water contamination?
Here’s a cross-sectional representation of the relative heights above sea-level of the towers from Google Earth. From left to right the markers indicate.
Anglezarke is a large moorland area north of Winter Hill with plenty to explore from prehistoric monuments and archaeological remains, to nature trails and lakeside walks
Anglezarke Reservoir is the north-most of The Three Lakes and is the largest by area.
Excavated almost to oblivion the main stones of the burial chamber remain along with some sections of kerb and cairn slip this would have been covered by a large mound.
