Nob End is the site of a former waste tip which is now a Site of Special Scientific Interest
History
Standing at the confluence of the
River Irwell and
River Croal the site was used around 1850-70 as a tip for toxic alkaline waste from the production of
sodium carbonate (soda ash) by the
Leblanc process.
[
The waste, known as 'galligu', was a blue sludge (from reduced iron compounds) dominated by calcium sulphide and smelling of bad eggs.][
]
The 8.8 hectare (21.7 acres)site became a SSSI in 1988, and a Local Nature Reserve in 2000.
In 1936 a major breach in the now defunct Manchester Bolton & Bury Canal occurred east of the Nob End locks; it is currently being repaired by watson homes, as part of their Creams mill development.[ Pennine Waterways]
Habitats
There are a number of different habitats on the site, the creation of which were dependent upon: the type of waste deposited, the pattern of deposition and the nature of the underlying substrate:
Flora
The flora found on the site includes: many types of Orchidaceae, Orobanchaceae, Listera, Erigeron acer and Carlina.
See also
