Cllr Jon and Jamie have given out warnings on here about the dangers of kids larking about on the iced over reservoirs and quite rightly so.
It is very tempting however.
I did it myself years ago on the boating lake in the Pavilion Gardens in Buxton. I fell through the ice and ended up waste deep in filthy, freezing water and had to come all the way back to Whaley on the train, wet through and shivering like I’d never shivered before. A good hiding from my Mum warmed me up a bit and another one later on from my Dad when he got home from work really did the trick. But I lived to tell this tale. Some don’t.
There have been many drownings of young people around these parts at this time of year. Just one sad example is related below:
Extract from John Warren’s. Diary
1862 Saturday November 22nd. Elizabeth Ward was drowned in the Reservoir that belongs to Whaley Bridge Print Works. It was not in the Company’s Reservoir, it was in that small one that is below that fine Hall.
Extract from Buxton Advertiser
29 November 1862
fatal accident. A melancholy accident resulting in loss of life occurred at Whaley Bridge, on Saturday last, about noon.
Miss E. Ward, the only daughter of Mrs Ward, Jodrell Arms Inn, had ventured upon the ice, on a small but deep reservoir, just below the house, lately occupied by Mr Welch. Seeing that the ice safely carried her weight Mr W. Welch and Mr T. Baxter, in frolic joined her, when the ice gave way beneath the weight of the three, and they were all for some minutes struggling in the water. Baxter managed to get out before help came, but by the time a rope was obtained to be thrown to Mr Welch, Miss Ward, who had clung to him, relaxed her hold, and it was with difficulty he reached land without being able to save her.
Ward, the policeman, at the London and North Western Railway Station, who deserves great praise for the alacrity he displayed, seeing from the top of the chapel omnibus that something was amiss, ran across the field, and on arriving at the spot took hold of one end of the rope, and Mr S. Wyld of the other, and between them the body was recovered, but, alas! It was too late for any restoratives to be of any avail, although every effort was used by Mr Lyths.
An inquest was held on Monday, at the Jodrell Arms, when a verdict of “accidentally drowned” was returned.
A Picture of the Hall on a postcard dated 12.08.13
Looks nice but be ever watchful of the dangers of deep water.
R. S-S
